By Shannon Tiezzi
China is furious over charges brought against 5 PLA officers – and things could get worse before they get better.
On Monday, the U.S. Justice Department announced a landmark case: five officers in China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) have been indicted on charges of hacking and economic espionage. According to Attorney General Eric Holder, the case is the first time the United States has brought charges against state actors for cybercrimes targeting U.S. companies.
China, which has always denied any state involvement in cyber espionage (economic or otherwise), angrily denounced the charges. A statement from the Foreign Ministry called the charges “purely ungrounded with ulterior motives.” China immediately called off its participation in the U.S.-China Cyber Working group, citing a “lack of sincerity on the part of the U.S. to solve issues related to cyber security through dialogue and cooperation.”
China has also summoned U.S. officials to personally decry the indictment. U.S. Ambassador to China Max Baucus was summoned for a dressing-down from China’s Assistant Foreign Minister Zheng Zeguang. The Foreign Ministry also made representations to U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Kin Moy, who is in China on a visit. Moy was told that “the Chinese government, Chinese military and relevant personnel have never engaged or participated in cyber theft for trade secrets.” Chinese officials have repeatedly urged that the U.S. “revoke” the indictment of the PLA officers.
Read the full story at The Diplomat