China is denying Pentagon accusations that Chinese hackers are breaking into American computer networks to steal advanced military designs.
"We firmly oppose any groundless criticism and hype, because groundless hype and criticism will only harm bilateral efforts at cooperation and dialogue," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told reporters Tuesday as quoted by Reuters.
The Pentagon's claims came Monday in a review of China's military advancement delivered annually to Congress. The report said hackers in China are working with government approval to steal data from the military and companies with military contracts for the "rapid modernization of its armed forces."
While the report stopped short of suggesting Beijing is conducting offensive cyberattacks against the United States, it did suggest the "skills required for these intrusions" closely match those needed for conducting cyberattacks.
The report marked the first time the United States military explicitly alleged the Chinese government is actively engaged in cyber espionage against it. It comes two months after President Barack Obama brought American concerns over Chinese hacking directly to Chinese President Xi Jinping's attention during a phone call between the two leaders.
The Pentagon report concluded that China's primary military goal is preparing for a potential conflict with Taiwan. China does not recognize Taiwan as independent, and low-level skirmishes over the control of small islands in the Taiwan Straight have broken out between the two countries in the past.