So? What is the significance of one single event? Looking at that site it is not that uncommon. Did this event catch your attention simply because it had the right keywords (US Dept of Energy and China)?
So? What is the significance of one single event? Looking at that site it is not that uncommon. Did this event catch your attention simply because it had the right keywords (US Dept of Energy and China)?
For the same reason robbing a bank is a more significant event than robbing a 7-Eleven.
"Who is responding to such an event during the government shutdown?" was my first thought. Assuming nefarious intent, now would be an ideal time to stage an attack.
DoE is currently not affected by the partial shutdown. It's business as usual at the national laboratories and with other employees/contractors. The way it's funded means that there would have to be a prolonged shutdown before DoE would have to start shutting down, but I think even then security and safety essential personnel are exempt.
ESnet is not affected by the shutdown. Also, ESnet does not transit all DoE traffic. ESnet is a purpose built science network and if you look in the AS-Set, this network is not transited by AS293 (ESnet).
The plan includes pay for external contractors and security-essential functions, so yes I would assume so (though I don't know firsthand about them specifically). To the best of my knowledge, DoE will continue to run entirely as normal until carryover funding from previous allocations runs out. Couple months at least. After that it basically goes into hibernation, but I expect that communications and network security would be considered as essential and hence would remain funded even then.
For the same reason robbing a bank is a more significant event than robbing a 7-Eleven.