Security News > 2020 > May > China Rejects US Claim of Attempted Vaccine Theft as 'Smearing'
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.
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.
"China expresses strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to such smearing," foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told a regular press briefing.
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.
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.