China Allegedly Targeted Trump, Vance Phones: US Officials

US officials have raised alarms that China attempted to hack into the phones of former President Donald Trump, his running mate Senator JD Vance, and individuals linked to Vice President Kamala Harris and other Democrats. The investigation is ongoing to determine what data, if any, was accessed. According to the Washington Post, it appears that the phones of some staff members were compromised. The FBI has stated that the hackers are affiliated with the Chinese government. One senior official expressed that the US is at "level 10, blinking red" on China's activities. The Trump campaign was notified this week and is awaiting a list of potential targets. Even without accessing the content of texts or calls, such data can be used to identify vulnerable individuals within Trump's inner circle for influence campaigns. This incident is believed to be part of a broader hacking effort by China, which has historically targeted US technology, infrastructure, and corporate secrets. China's embassy in Washington has denied any involvement, claiming that China opposes cyberattacks and is itself a frequent victim. They assert that the US elections are domestic affairs and that China has no intention of interfering.