A Chinese national accused of participating in government-sponsored cyberattacks has been extradited to the United States to face federal charges.

Xu Zewei is alleged to have been part of a Chinese government hacking group that conducted extensive cyber operations against U.S. targets. According to authorities, the group broke into computer systems belonging to thousands of American organizations.

The charges against Xu include allegations that the hacking group specifically targeted and stole COVID-19-related research data during their cyber operations. The timing and nature of these alleged attacks coincided with the global pandemic when such research was considered highly valuable.

The extradition represents part of ongoing U.S. efforts to prosecute individuals allegedly involved in state-sponsored cyberattacks. Chinese government-backed hacking groups have been a persistent concern for U.S. cybersecurity officials, who say such operations target critical infrastructure, research institutions, and private companies.

Xu now faces prosecution in U.S. federal court on charges related to the alleged cyberattacks. The case highlights continuing tensions between the United States and China over cybersecurity issues and alleged state-sponsored hacking activities.