U.S. intelligence says these China-backed hackers are among those laying the groundwork for future conflict with the United States.

U.S. officials have added a ninth telecommunications company to the list of entities compromised by a sweeping Chinese-linked cyberespionage operation known as Salt Typhoon, a top White House official said Friday.

The State and Treasury Departments say Chinese cybersecurity vendor Sichuan Juxinhe is behind the hacks into numerous US telecommunications companies.

The U.S. Treasury Department said Sichuan Juxinhe Network Technology Co. was directly involved in the deep compromises of the telecommunications firms.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Treasury department on Friday sanctioned Shanghai-based Yin Kechen and cybersecurity company Sichuan Juxinhe Network Technology Co., accusing both of being involved in a series of hacks against American telecom companies.