China accuses US of hypocrisy on indicting Chinese for Internet espionage

Chinese Ambassador Cui Tiankai on Tuesday accused the United Statesof hypocrisy for charging five Chinese nationals of alleged commercial espionage, citing Edward Snowden's revelations of US spying operations worldwide.

Cui made the remarks in an exclusive interview with the US TV network CNN, in response to the indictment announced Monday by the US Department of Justice against five Chinese military officers for so-called hacking US companies to steal trade secrets.

"It's really amazing to see that some people still believe they have moral high ground and credibility to accuse others, if we consider the Snowden revelations... It's a bit incredible," Cui told CNN's host Christiane Amanpour, referring to the revelations by former US defense contractor Edward Snowden who exposed the US worldwide spying operations on political leaders, institutions, companies and individuals.

Cui noted that China is in fact a victim of persistent and large-scale cyber attacks from the United States that target China's government institutions, schools, universities, companies and even individuals.

"And these originate from the United States. So we have always requested the United States to give us a clear and thorough clarification. But we still have none of it yet," the Chinese diplomat said.

"So I think it would be constructive and practical for the two governments to work together on these issues, to address these issues together -- not to exchange accusations like this," he said.

Cui rebuked the US claim that it draws a distinction between spying for national security and for the advancement of domestic business, pressing Washington to explain why it targeted Chinese companies, universities and even individuals for cyber attacks.

"I don't know how they can make a distinction between such activities. How do they explain the attacks on Chinese companies, universities, and even individuals? Is that for national defense? Or is that for other purposes?" he said.

The Chinese ambassador said China still hopes that the two countries can maintain a "stable and healthy" relationship, but adding it requires corresponding efforts by the US side.

"China itself cannot guarantee that the relations will move on the right tracks. It requires efforts by both side," he said.

China on Monday flatly rejected the US indictment against five Chinese military officers on allegation of cyber theft, while announcing the decision to suspend activities of the China-US Cyber Working Group.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang denounced the US accusation as "purely ungrounded and with ulterior purpose," warning that it jeopardizes China-US cooperation and mutual trust..

The ministry also summoned US Ambassador to China Max Baucus to lodge a protest with the US side over the indictment and urge Washington to immediately correct its mistakes and withdraw the indictment.