China 'not spying on UK firms'
2007-12-04 14:00
Beijing - A news report claiming Chinese agencies were spying on British companies via the internet was irresponsible and incorrect, China's Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.
The Times of London reported on Saturday that Jonathan Evans, who heads Britain's spy agency MI5, sent letters to 300 executives and security chiefs at banks, accountancies and legal firms warning them that "Chinese state organisations" were hacking into their systems through the internet and stealing confidential information.
On Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Qin Gang denied the report, saying China opposed computer hacking and that it was co-operating with British authorities.
He also accused the British media of spreading inaccurate information.
"We express strong dissatisfaction. It is a very irresponsible act," Qin said of the British news report.
The Times said the letter told its recipients how to identify Chinese "Trojans" - e-mails carrying software designed to hack into a computer network and feed back confidential data.
The accusation comes ahead of a planned trip to China in January by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, his first to the country since taking office in June.
Computer experts have blamed hackers linked to the Chinese military for cyber attacks on the US Pentagon, the British Parliament and the German chancellery.
China denies it is engaged in any cyber crime and said its networks also have been targeted.
Experts say China is home to a large number of insecure computers and networks that hackers in other countries could use to disguise their locations and launch attacks.
- AP