The Chinese authorities have reportedly "admitted" that Beijing was behind a series of cyber attacks on the critical infrastructure of the United States of America (USA).

Anonymous sources told the Wall Street Journal, quoted in several media outlets, that the admission took place during a "secret meeting" in Geneva, Switzerland, in December 2024, at the end of former US President Joe Biden's administration.

During the negotiations, the Chinese delegation allegedly "linked years of meddling in the computer systems of US ports, water infrastructure and airports to growing US support for Taiwan".

This would be Beijing's first admission of responsibility for the attacks, since the Chinese authorities have always attributed the operations to criminal groups.

The sources specified that the Chinese delegation's statements during the meeting were "indirect and rather ambiguous", but the US authorities "interpreted them as a tacit admission and as a warning about Taiwan".

The secret meeting was held with senior officials from both nations and led by Nate Fick, then US ambassador for cyberspace and digital policy, along with Wang Lei, a senior cyber official from China's Foreign Ministry, officials said.

Although China has previously attributed all allegations of cyber attacks and espionage to rogue hackers such as the Volt Typhoon group, Wang made it clear that the attacks were a direct result of the situation in Taiwan, which Beijing insists will be annexed in the coming years.

Both the Biden White House and President Donald Trump's transition team were briefed on the secret meeting and the details discussed.

The State Department emphasized that it "will take action in response to Chinese malicious cyber activity", classifying the attacks as "some of the most serious and persistent threats to US national security".

Beijing has yet to comment on the reports of the meeting, but its authorities have already accused the US of "using cyber security to defame and slander China".

The hacking revelations come not only at a time when Beijing is stepping up military exercises around Taiwan, but also at a time when Sino-US relations are at their lowest point due to Trump's trade war.