"China Was Behind It" - Blackwater's Erik Prince Says AT&T Outage Was A Chinese Cyber Attack

Summary

The transcript discusses recent cyber attacks, potentially by China, against US targets like AT&T. It speculates on China's capabilities and motives, including disrupting Taiwan, conducting asymmetric warfare against the US, and worsening the fentanyl epidemic. The speaker predicts increasing Chinese aggression and provocations going forward.

Takeaways

• 🔥 The speaker believes there is a 70% chance that China was behind a recent cyber attack on AT&T as a warning or trial before potential aggressive actions towards Taiwan.
• 🛡️ The speaker suggests China might provoke incidents by seizing smaller islands near Taiwan, testing international responses.
• 🚨 They highlight China's strategy of 'salami slicing' – making minor, incremental moves to gradually advance their strategic goals without provoking a strong international response.
• 👨‍💻 The speaker discusses China's influence operations in the U.S., including Confucius Institutes and the Thousand Talents Program, aimed at intellectual and technological espionage.
• 🌎 The United Front Work Department is mentioned as part of China's global influence and intelligence network, implying a significant presence and influence within the U.S.
• 🛠️ The speaker criticizes the U.S. response to Chinese influence and espionage, suggesting more stringent counterintelligence measures are needed.
• 💻 Cyber warfare capabilities of China are considered significant, with potential impacts on U.S. infrastructure such as 911 services and telecommunications.
• 🛩️ There is a discussion about the strategic use of drugs, specifically fentanyl, by China as a form of asymmetric warfare against the U.S., contributing to the opioid crisis.
• 🚧 The speaker highlights the role of Chinese technology, particularly Huawei, in global telecommunications infrastructure as a security risk.
• 🔴 The narrative includes concerns about China's potential to disrupt U.S. elections and societal stability through asymmetric warfare and technological means.

Q & A

What percentage chance does the assistant assign to China being behind the recent AT&T cyber attack?

The assistant assigns a 70% chance that China was behind the recent AT&T cyber attack.

What might China's goals be in staging cyber attacks and provocations against Taiwan?

The assistant speculates that China may be testing the response and resolve of the US and other nations to minor provocations, in order to gauge reactions before taking more aggressive action to assert control over Taiwan.

What asymmetric capabilities does China have within the US that could pose security threats?

The assistant cites Confucius Institutes at universities, the Thousand Talents program to acquire technology, United Front influence operations, and a large Chinese diaspora population from which China can recruit agents or exert pressure.

How does the assistant describe China's approach to advancing its interests?

The assistant characterizes China as willing to 'salami slice', aka make gradual incremental advances, in order to shift the status quo over time without provoking major reactions.

What was unique about Trump's policies towards China from the assistant's perspective?

The assistant says Trump was the first president to clearly tell China to stop advancing illegally into other nations' territories and recognize its behavior as unacceptable.

What risks does the assistant highlight regarding Chinese telecom infrastructure in the US?

The assistant worries that backdoors may have been installed in Huawei equipment previously operating in the US, which could enable surveillance or cyber attacks.

How does the assistant link the US fentanyl epidemic to China?

The assistant states that China is the source of fentanyl precursor chemicals and is actively facilitating their distribution despite the harm caused, in order to undermine US society.

What options might China have to interfere in US elections through cyber attacks?

The assistant speculates China could knock out phones to disrupt voting in certain areas to influence election outcomes.

Why does the assistant say China feels emboldened to take provocative actions?

The assistant implies that China has faced few consequences for aggressive actions like cyber intrusions, airspace violations, and missile launches, so feels it can escalate without risk.

What does the assistant recommend the US do to counter Chinese influence operations?

The assistant advocates enhanced counterintelligence monitoring of Chinese diplomatic facilities, party member meetings, and talent recruitment programs.