BEIJING, May 14, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Beijing accused the United States on
Thursday of smearing China after Washington alleged Chinese hackers were
attempting to steal research on developing a vaccine against the coronavirus.
The claims have added fuel to tensions between the global superpowers, who
have traded barbs over the origin of the pandemic that has killed 300,000
people.
US authorities said Wednesday that Chinese hackers were trying to obtain
coronavirus data on treatments and vaccines, warning the effort involved
Chinese government-affiliated groups and others.
The FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency said
China’s efforts posed a “significant threat” to the US response to COVID-19.
“China expresses strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to such
smearing,” foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told a regular press
briefing.
“Judging from past records, the US has carried out the largest cybertheft
operations worldwide,” Zhao said.
He stressed that Beijing has significant achievements of its own in the
fight against the pandemic.
China is “also leading the world in COVID-19 vaccine research and
treatment”, and therefore has more reason to worry about cyber espionage
itself, Zhao said.
He added that the country has cracked down on cyber-hacking, and that any
cyber attack hindering the global fight against the pandemic should be
condemned by people around the world.
Responding to US President Donald Trump’s reference to COVID-19 as the
“Plague from China”, Zhao said the US should stop blaming and discrediting
others, and focus on their own prevention and control work.
The virus first emerged in the central Chinese city of Wuhan late last
year.