Former Senator Hillary Clinton has accused China of stealing commercial secrets and government information, adding that the economic giant is "trying to hack into everything that doesn't move in America."
The US Democratic presidential aspirant cautioned American authorities to be vigilant, insisting that China is willing to do everything—like launching a cyberwarfare against the United States—in its bid to continue its rise to global eminence.
"They are trying to hack into everything that doesn't move in America—stealing commercial secrets, blueprints from defence contractors, stealing huge amounts of government information—all looking for an advantage," Clinton said, according to Time.
"Make no mistake: they know they're in a competition, and they're going to do everything they can to win it," she said at a campaign function in New Hampshire over the weekend.
The former First Lady of US President Bill Clinton issued the statement three months after US officials discovered a "massive breach" of federal database and records committed earlier this year.
In June, US Intelligence chief James Clapper named China as the leading suspect behind the major hacking of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), which compromised the records of more than 4 million federal employees.
The Chinese government denied any involvement in the incident.
"China's military is growing very quickly, they're establishing military installations that again threaten countries we have treaties with, like the Philippines, because they are building on contested property," Clinton said, according to BBC.
Meanwhile, China changed its tune in responding to old US claims that it has been sponsoring the hacking of information in America, downplaying Clinton's accusation and saying China was also a victim of hacking attacks.
On Monday, Chinese Foreign Ministrry spokesperson Hua Chunying said both countries had taken "constructive spirit in addressing the issue."
"China and the US have taken a constructive spirit and approach to strengthening dialogue and cooperation to jointly face various challenges in line with the interests of both sides in a way that is conducive to peace and prosperity in the region and the world," Hua said, according to Reuters.
