Beijing has issued a sharp rebuke to Washington, accusing the U.S. of leveraging cybersecurity concerns to tarnish China’s reputation. The Chinese response follows allegations from the U.S. government linking Beijing to a hacking operation, according to reports from the EFE news agency.
China Denies Accusations, Calls for “Evidence-Based Conclusions”
Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington, voiced “strong opposition” to what he described as “defamatory attacks” in a statement to EFE.
“Cyberspace is inherently complex, with difficulties in pinpointing origins and identifying actors, making it a technical challenge to trace cyberattacks,” Liu argued. He emphasized the importance of professionalism and responsibility in handling cyber incidents, urging all parties to rely on “adequate evidence rather than speculation or baseless accusations.”
The spokesperson demanded that Washington cease its alleged smear campaign, declaring, “Stop using cybersecurity as a pretext to defame and slander China or to spread misinformation about so-called Chinese hacking threats.”
China’s Stance on Cybersecurity
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated its consistent opposition to all forms of cyberattacks in a statement on Tuesday. Beijing maintains that it does not condone hacking and continues to deny any involvement in state-sponsored cyber intrusions.