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.
News URL
Related news
- Ex-Meta exec tells Senate Zuck dangled US citizen data in bid to enter China (source)
- China reportedly admitted directing cyberattacks on US infrastructure (source)
- China names alleged US snoops over Asian Winter Games attacks (source)
- China now America's number one cyber threat – US must get up to speed (source)
- Maryland man pleads guilty to outsourcing US govt work to North Korean dev in China (source)
- Why is China deep in US networks? 'They're preparing for war,' HR McMaster tells lawmakers (source)