China slams US computer espionage accusations

Ap
Monday 24 November 2008 11:49 GMT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

China has denounced a US congressional panel that issued a report accusing it of stepping up computer espionage attacks on the American government, its defence contractors and businesses.

The US-China Economic and Security Review Commission, a congressional advisory panel, also said in an annual report to lawmakers that aggressive Chinese space programs were allowing Beijing to better target US military forces.

In a statement, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang rejected the findings, dismissing them as "not worthy of rebuttal."

The commission "deliberately slanders and attacks China" and always sees it in a bad light, Qin said. "It attempts to mislead public opinion and the general public as well as set obstacles for Sino-US cooperation in extensive fields."

The panel of six Democrats and six Republicans said China's massive military modernisation and its "impressive but disturbing" space and computer warfare capabilities "suggest China is intent on expanding its sphere of control even at the expense of its Asian neighbours and the United States."

It recommended that lawmakers provide money for US government programs that would monitor and protect computer networks.

The report also focused on what it said was China's use of prison labour to produce export products and found fault with Beijing's lax regulatory oversight of an estimated 4.5 million fish farms.

China was also accused of violating commitments to avoid trade-distorting measures, adopting new laws that may restrict foreign access to China's markets and keeping its currency undervalued to get an export advantage.

Qin warned that such complaints could backfire.

"We advise this commission to change its course, stop issuing reports of this kind and stop interfering with China's internal affairs so as not to further harm its own image," he said.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in