Beijing tightens its protest against cyber espionage charges

China has summoned the U.S. ambassador to Beijing, Max Baucus, to protest against officially filing charges by a U.S. grand jury against five Chinese military personals accused of cyber espionage against U.S. companies in the country. The swift reaction of the Chinese government, which the U.S. announcement surprised just hours before opening a forum in Shanghai security and cooperation in Asia that Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Iranian head of state Hasan Rohani also involved, among others.

Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the protest “solemn” of Chinese government against an action that has seriously damaged the bilateral ties and against which China can still do more.

Earlier this week, Beijing had already announced its withdrawal from the group of China -US cybersecurity work. In Washington, the Chinese ambassador also conveyed a similar message to the U.S. authorities. For its part, the Chinese Defense Ministry categorically rejected the accusations against its military and accused, in a statement by its spokesman Geng Yansheng, the U.S. of “hypocrisy and double standards.”

“For a long time, the U.S. authorities use advanced technology and infrastructure to conduct cyber espionage and surveillance of dignitaries and foreign companies,” the Defense Ministry statement, which refers to diplomatic cables leaked by Wikileaks and allegations of Edward Snowden. The former contractor of the U.S. security services has said, among other things, that the U.S. entered into the computers of Huawei, the Chinese telecommunications giant that Washington accuses, without even trying it, of having links with the People’s Liberation Army Chinese. The end of the Chinese military computers, ensures Geng, have been a large number of cyber attacks from abroad, of which a “considerable” number come from USA.

The five defendants belong to the military unit 61398 of People’s Liberation Army, which the U.S. judicial authorities accused of attacking the computer systems of companies such as steelmaker United States Steel Corp and Toshiba technology to provide information about the activities of these Chinese SOEs companies. In all reactions so far, Beijing has warned of consequences that affect bilateral relations. The Foreign Ministry says it will consider how the situation before taking further action. And the Defence recalls that although relations between the two armed forces have gradually improved, filing charges against the five soldiers ” seriously undermines mutual trust.”

It was the worst blow to relations between the two major world powers since the arrival of Chinese President Xi Jinping, the Head of State to fourteen months ago. Just a year ago, he and U.S. President Barack Obama met at the Californian ranch Sunnylands to announce a new relationship based on trust and mutual benefit.

Since then, the trust has not finished off. China is looking askance at the “pivot” of U.S. strategy toward the Asia – Pacific. And the U.S. looks suspiciously Chinese activities in the seas of eastern and southern China. Beijing has condemned Obama received earlier this year the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan spiritual leader in the White House. Not even a visit from the first lady, Michelle Obama, her mother and her daughters to China has remarkably clear atmosphere. Both countries have strong disagreements in areas such as human rights or trade disputes.

Short URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=44246

Posted by Khalil Khan on May 21 2014. Filed under World. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.