China’s Xi breaks word, continues cyber attacks against U.S. networks

Special to WorldTribune.com

Bill Gertz, Washington Free Beacon

Six months after China pledged to halt cyber espionage against the United States, Beijing’s hackers continue to conduct cyber attacks on government and private networks, the commander of U.S. Cyber Command told Congress.

Chinese President Xi Jinping applauds during the opening session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference in Beijing's Great Hall of the People, Thursday, March 3, 2016. Xi is set to further consolidate his all-encompassing hold on power at this week's annual session of the National People's Congress, China's rubber-stamp parliament. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Chinese President Xi Jinping applauds during the opening session of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference in Beijing’s Great Hall of the People, Thursday, March 3, 2016. Xi is set to further consolidate his all-encompassing hold on power at this week’s annual session of the National People’s Congress, China’s rubber-stamp parliament. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Despite a formal pledge made by Chinese leader Xi Jinping in September, “cyber operations from China are still targeting and exploiting U.S. government, defense industry, academic, and private computer networks,” Adm. Mike Rogers, the Cybercom chief, said in prepared testimony to a House Armed Services subcommittee on Wednesday.

Rogers echoed comments on continued Chinese cyber attacks made by Director of National Intelligence James Clapper in February. Clapper said in Senate testimony that “it remains to be seen” if China will abide by the informal pledge made during a summit meeting in Washington with President Obama. …

Despite the Chinese hacking activity, the Obama administration has taken no action against China for years of large-scale cyber attacks that officials say have cost the nation billions of dollars in stolen intellectual property and compromised networks. Rogers also warned that nation states with advanced cyber warfare capabilities are taking steps to mask their cyber attacks by cooperating with non-government hackers.

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