CHINA-USA/CYBER SECURITY China tells U.S. to stop 'groundless' hacking accusations
Record ID:
140063
CHINA-USA/CYBER SECURITY China tells U.S. to stop 'groundless' hacking accusations
- Title: CHINA-USA/CYBER SECURITY China tells U.S. to stop 'groundless' hacking accusations
- Date: 11th September 2015
- Summary: BEIJING, CHINA (SEPTEMBER 11, 2015) (REUTERS) CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN, HONG LEI, WALKING IN FOR REGULAR NEWS CONFERENCE JOURNALISTS SEATED (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN, HONG LEI, SAYING: "China and the U.S. are both countries with a large internet (presence), maintaining internet safety is of mutual benefit and (we) face the same challenges, maintaining cyber security should be a point of cooperation rather than a source of friction between the two countries." JOURNALISTS SITTING (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN, HONG LEI, SAYING: "We hope that the U.S. stops its groundless attacks against China, start dialogue based on a foundation of mutual respect, and jointly build a cyberspace that is peaceful, secure, open and cooperative." BRIEFING IN PROGRESS EXTERIOR OF CHINA'S FOREIGN MINISTRY CHINESE FLAG FLYING
- Embargoed: 26th September 2015 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: China
- Country: China
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVAECSH6PSPS7L47YQFXPBOCEQXX
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: China's Foreign Ministry on Friday (September 11) called on the United States to stop its "groundless accusations" after America's top intelligence official said the country must beef up cyber security against China.
The director of national intelligence, James Clapper, presented a dire assessment of global cyber risks, with China and Russia posing the most advanced cyber threats, during testimony given to a congressional committee on Thursday (September 10).
Clapper's comments come just weeks before Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to make a state visit to Washington.
The Obama administration is considering targeted sanctions against Chinese individuals and companies for cyber attacks against U.S. commercial targets, several U.S. officials have said.
China has denied any involvement in hacking U.S. government and corporate databases and insists that it too has been a victim of cyber attacks.
Speaking at a regular news briefing, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei called on China and the U.S. to work together to fight hacking.
"China and the U.S. are both countries with a large internet (presence), maintaining internet safety is of mutual benefit and (we) face the same challenges, maintaining cyber security should be a point of cooperation rather than a source of friction between the two countries," said Hong.
"We hope that the U.S. stops its groundless attacks against China, start dialogue based on a foundation of mutual respect, and jointly build a cyberspace that is peaceful, secure, open and cooperative," he added.
Chinese hackers have been implicated in the massive hacking of the U.S. government's personnel office disclosed this year. Two breaches of security clearance applications exposed the personal data of more than 20 million federal employees.
Clapper did not explicitly blame China for hacking the Office of Personnel Management, but he said the breach could compromise the cover of U.S. spies abroad, though he said there had not yet been any signs of "nefarious" use of the data. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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