Biden Seeks to Renew U.S.-China Tech Agreement Amid Salt Typhoon Cyberattack Probes

Oct 11, 2024, 03:23 PM

The Biden administration is quietly seeking to renew the expired 1979 U.S.-China Science and Technology Agreement, which expired on August 27 after a six-month extension. A State Department official stated that the administration continues to work towards strengthening the agreement to advance and protect U.S. interests in science and technology. This move has sparked opposition from congressional Republicans who argue that the agreement should be permanently terminated. Meanwhile, U.S. officials are investigating the severity of recent China-tied cyberattacks on American broadband providers, known as Salt Typhoon hacks. Hackers have maintained access to some breached networks within the last week, and more potential victims have been notified of possible compromise. Bipartisan committee leaders are seeking answers from telecom companies, including Verizon, AT&T, and Lumen Technologies, to prevent future attacks.