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![Brazil and Germany had drafted a resolution criticizing the mass surveillance program of the US that was adopted by the UN General Assembly last week [Getty Images]](http://thebricspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/spying.jpg)
Brazil and Germany had drafted a resolution criticizing the mass surveillance program of the US that was adopted by the UN General Assembly last week [Getty Images]
A Chinese diplomat in Brussels has slammed a US congressman’s remarks on alleged Chinese cyber espionage, saying they were “ridiculous” and that global focus needs to address the issue of how the US National Security Agency bulk collects and stores data.
“Remarks of this kind are ridiculous,” said the spokesperson for the Chinese Mission to the European Union.
“The PRISM issue has drawn worldwide attention. Its impact is worthy of rethinking,” he said.
“We hope that relevant parties could take it seriously and address their own problems properly rather than attempt to divert the concerns of the international community by making unprofessional and irresponsible accusations,” the spokesperson added.
Last week, US Congressman Mike Rogers told members of the European Parliament in Brussels that a debate on the NSA surveillance program was allowing “China to steal”.
“Because of this confusion and of this muddling of the debate, it has allowed the Chinese to absolutely steal us blind when it comes to intellectual property for European and American companies,” said Republican congressman Mike Rogers.
Rogers also claimed that Chinese cyber espionage has already cost the US economy $400 billion.
China and the US have in recent times traded bitter accusations on protectionism, cyber-security, human rights reports, military pivots.
A confidential report obtained by the Washington Post and published in May earlier this year says that US military officials suspect China is behind a series of hackings of designs for some of America’s most important and sensitive weapons systems.
The Pentagon had in May, in a report to Congress, named the Chinese government as the driver behind cyber-espionage against the US.
Meanwhile, the Chinese spokesperson in Brussels said Beijing will oppose cyber attacks of “all kind”.
“We oppose hacking and cyber attack of whatever form. We call upon the international community to actively conduct dialogue and cooperation in the spirit of mutual respect and mutual trust, and formulate international cyberspace code of conduct under the UN framework,” the spokesperson said.
Brazil and Germany had drafted a resolution criticizing the mass surveillance program of the US that was adopted by the UN General Assembly last week.
US Secretary of State John Kerry has acknowledged that in some cases US spying had gone too far. And a White House panel has recommended significant curbs on the NSA’s electronic surveillance programmes.
TBP and Agencies
