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             China Rejects Pentagon's Accusations of Cyber Attacks

   by VOA News

   China is rejecting a U.S. defense report that accuses Beijing of using
   cyber espionage to try to acquire information about U.S. foreign policy
   and military plans.
   Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said at a briefing Tuesday
   the Pentagon's claims were groundless and irresponsible and will only
   hurt U.S.-China relations.
   "China has said many times it firmly opposes any form of hacking
   attack. We are willing to have dispassionate and constructive dialogue
   on cyber security with the U.S. side. But we firmly oppose any
   groundless criticism and hype," said Hua.
   The Pentagon report released Monday says some cyber attacks on U.S.
   government computer systems "appear to be attributable directly to
   [Chinese] government and military organizations."
   This is the first time the annual report on China's military has
   explicitly accused Beijing of targeting U.S. defense networks.
   U.S. officials have increasingly criticized China-based computer
   hacking attempts. But they have mostly refrained from making direct
   accusations against the Beijing government, instead hoping to use talks
   to solve the problem.
   Steve Tsang, a China scholar at Britain's University of Nottingham,
   tells VOA he thinks the Pentagon must have found substantial evidence
   to make such a strong accusation.
   "We have known for a long time the Chinese have been developing the
   capabilities and deploying a huge number of people for cyber
   operations, targeting foreign governments, and the United States in
   particular," said Tsang.
   Earlier this year, the U.S. Internet security group Mandiant produced a
   detailed report accusing the Chinese military of stealing large amounts
   of data from about 150 U.S. companies and organizations.
   China has rejected such charges, saying they are based on guesswork and
   represent an anti-China bias. It has also criticized the U.S. for
   making accusations without providing sufficient evidence.
   Tsang says this objection is understandable, but notes that it would be
   difficult for the U.S. to provide proof of Chinese hacking, since such
   a disclosure could aid further alleged Chinese cyber espionage
   attempts.
   "For the Chinese, they really have nothing to lose by insisting the
   Americans produce hard evidence. Because once the Americans produce
   hard evidence, it will give away how the Americans know, and therefore
   provide scope for the Chinese to prepare countermeasures," he said.
   U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense David Helvey on Monday
   defended the report as "factual and not speculative," noting that it
   reflects broadly the views held across the U.S. government.
   The report released Monday says China is using the cyber attacks to
   collect information as part of a broader industrial espionage effort to
   obtain military related U.S. and western technology.
   It also notes China is modernizing its short-range ballistic missile
   force and is increasing the number of its medium-range missiles. Helvey
   says China is actively looking to project its power farther than
   before.
   "We're concerned about the ability of China to develop missiles that
   can project its military power with precision great distances from
   China," he said.
   He says China's military investments go beyond missiles and cyber
   security, and include submarines, new fighter jets, and its first
   aircraft carrier.
   Many of China's neighbors have expressed concern that China is using
   its rising military might to become more aggressive in defending its
   disputed maritime claims in energy-rich areas, such as the South China
   Sea.
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References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/china-rejects-pentagon-accusations-of-cyber-attacks/1655971.html