Beijing
(AsiaNews) - China and the United States appear on the verge of an escalating
cyberwar. After the New York Times, now the Wall Street Journal said
its computer systems, too, had been breached by
China-based hackers. In both cases, the papers' correspondents from Beijing
were also the targets.
"These
are the latest in a string of such incidents," said Peter Ford, president
of the China Foreign Correspondents Club. "In the past a number of members have
reported attempts to install malware on their computers that our security
consultants have identified as being based in China.
For
many reporters in Beijing, cyberattacks-such as attempts to infiltrate their
computers, access their emails or clone their email addresses-have become an
unavoidable part of the job.
"You assume it's
pervasive and that your email is read and phone calls are overheard," a US
reporter said.
Ford said security
consultants for the organisation have said the attacks they have examined
originated in China. "But the Chinese authorities have never appeared to take
these allegations seriously," he said.
For
his part, Vice-Premier Li Keqiang tried to ease
tensions. Without mentioning the cyberattack against the two US newspapers, Li,
during a meeting with Ed Royce, chairman
of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, said the two countries should take care of
each other's core interests, which
form the basis of their relationship, whilst managing and controlling
contradictions and differences.
