Hackers linked to the Chinese government are targeting critical US infrastructure, preparing to cause "real-world harm" to Americans, FBI Director Christopher Wray told a congressional committee on Wednesday.
Water treatment plants, the electric grid, oil and natural gas pipelines and transportation hubs are among the targets of state-sponsored hacking operations, he told the House of Representatives Select Committee on competition with China.
"They're not focused just on political and military targets. We can see from where they position themselves across civilian infrastructure, that low blows aren't just a possibility in the event of conflict, low blows against civilians are part of China's plan," Wray said.
"I do want the American people to know that we cannot afford to sleep on this danger," he said.
The Chinese foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the matter.
Wray has repeatedly said Beijing is trying to undermine the United States through espionage campaigns, intellectual property theft and cyberattacks.
Chinese accusations against the US, allies
The Chinese government has previously accused the United States and its allies of spreading "disinformation" through its accusations against what Washington says are state-sponsored hacking groups.
Wray testified along with General Paul Nakasone, commander of US cyber command, and other top federal cybersecurity officials at a hearing focused on cyber threats posed by Beijing.
"This is the cyberspace equivalent of placing bombs on American bridges, water treatment facilities, and power plants. There is no economic benefit for these actions. There is no intelligence gathering rationale," said Republican Representative Mike Gallagher, the committee's chairman.
"The sole purpose is to be ready to destroy American infrastructure, which will inevitably result in mass American casualties."
Jen Easterly, director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, said the United States has "found and eradicated" Chinese cyber intrusions in aviation, water, energy and transportation infrastructure, and said Americans need to prepare for an unexpected attack.
Separately, officials said on Wednesday that the United States disrupted a Chinese hacking operation that targeted US critical infrastructure.
Reuters reportedon Tuesday that the US government launched an operation in recent months against a Chinese hacking operation, Volt Typhoon, which officials said had been spying on US infrastructure networks.