China's new premier rejects US hacking claims

Chinese soldiers march outside the Great Hall of the People before the closing ceremony of the National People's Congress in Beijing, China, Sunday, March 17, 2013. (AP Photo/Alexander F. Yuan) ? AP

A man listens to a news conference by newly-appointed Premier Li Keqiang who appears on a monitor screen after the closing ceremony of the National People's Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing Sunday, March 17, 2013. China's new leaders pledged to run a cleaner, more efficient government and slash spending on official perks Sunday as the ceremonial legislature wrapped up a pivotal session to install a new leadership in a once-a-decade transfer of power. (AP Photo/Andy Wong) ? AP

China's newly appointed Premier Li Kiqiang, right, and former Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao applaud at the closing session of the National People's Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing China, Sunday, March 17, 2013. China's new leader Xi Jinping pledged a cleaner, more efficient government Sunday as the country's ceremonial legislature wrapped up a pivotal session that installed the latest generation of communist leaders in a once-a-decade transfer of power.(AP Photo/Kin Cheung) ? AP

BEIJING ? New Chinese Premier Li Keqiang dismissed hacking accusations against China as "groundless" on Sunday and said his government was committed to strong ties with Washington.

Referring to allegations that China's military was behind massive hacking attacks on U.S. entities, Li reiterated Beijing's statements that China is a major target of global hackers and opposes all such criminal activity.

"I think we should not make groundless accusations against each other but spend more time doing practical things that will contribute to cybersecurity," Li said in his first news conference in his new role.

Li is the highest-ranking official to comment on the hacking claims made by U.S. cybersecurity firm Mandiant that provided a detailed picture of alleged cyberspying carried out by a People's Liberation Army unit based in Shanghai.

Li said that despite their differences, conflict between the world's largest and second-largest economies is not inevitable as long as the countries respect each other's major concerns and manage their differences.

China's new leaders "attach great importance" to relations that meet the "fundamental interests of people in both countries and serves the global trend of peace and development," Li told reporters at the traditional premier's news conference that follows the close of the annual legislative session.

China-U.S. ties have weathered a series of crises over the past year over dissidents, Chinese trade practices, opposition to Chinese investment in the U.S. and - most recently - hacking accusations. While basically stable, political ties are seen as lagging behind the economic relationship, with two-way trade hitting almost $500 billion last year, and China's new president, Xi Jinping, isn't expected to meet President Barack Obama until an economic summit in Russia in September.

Following Xi's elevation, Li was appointed premier last week, with running China's economy his main responsibility.

The Associated Press

Source: http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/mar/17/chinas-new-premier-rejects-us-hacking-claims/

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