WASHINGTON - CHINA is sharply stepping up espionage against the United States as the rising Asian power grows more sophisticated in cyber warfare and spy recruitment, a report to Congress warned on Thursday.
'China is changing the way that espionage is being done,' said Carolyn Bartholomew, the chair of the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission.
In its wide-ranging annual report to Congress, the commission reported a steep rise in the disruption and infiltration of websites of the US government and perceived Beijing rivals such as Tibet's exiled leader the Dalai Lama.
Colonel Gary McAlum, a senior military officer, told the commission the US Defense Department detected 54,640 malicious cyber incidents to its systems in 2008, a 20 per cent rise from a year earlier. The figure is on track to jump another 60 per cent this year.
While the attacks came from around the world, the commission said China was the largest culprit. Some Chinese 'patriotic hackers' may not receive official support, but the report said the government likely planned to deploy them in a conflict to disrupt a foreign adversary's computers. The commission found that China was the most aggressive nation in spying on the United States and was trying to recruit more Americans as spies.
While China historically tried to tap Chinese Americans - believing, often incorrectly, that they would be sympathetic - it was now turning to the Soviet model of seeking to bribe informants with cash and gifts, the report said. It said the Chinese were also expanding 'false flag' operations, in which sources are deceived into thinking they are providing information elsewhere. -- AFP
'China is changing the way that espionage is being done,' said Carolyn Bartholomew, the chair of the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission.
In its wide-ranging annual report to Congress, the commission reported a steep rise in the disruption and infiltration of websites of the US government and perceived Beijing rivals such as Tibet's exiled leader the Dalai Lama.
Colonel Gary McAlum, a senior military officer, told the commission the US Defense Department detected 54,640 malicious cyber incidents to its systems in 2008, a 20 per cent rise from a year earlier. The figure is on track to jump another 60 per cent this year.
While the attacks came from around the world, the commission said China was the largest culprit. Some Chinese 'patriotic hackers' may not receive official support, but the report said the government likely planned to deploy them in a conflict to disrupt a foreign adversary's computers. The commission found that China was the most aggressive nation in spying on the United States and was trying to recruit more Americans as spies.
While China historically tried to tap Chinese Americans - believing, often incorrectly, that they would be sympathetic - it was now turning to the Soviet model of seeking to bribe informants with cash and gifts, the report said. It said the Chinese were also expanding 'false flag' operations, in which sources are deceived into thinking they are providing information elsewhere. -- AFP
