US Says China's Government, Military Used Cyberespionage
The Chinese government has targeted U.S. government computer systems for intrusion, the Pentagon said Monday in a more direct accusation of cyberespionage than the U.S. has made in the past.
While American officials have long charged that China is a top perpetrator of cyberespionage, a new Pentagon report goes a step further, blaming some cyberintrusions directly on the government and its military.
The report also outlined Chinese investments in new Navy ships, advanced fighter planes and so-called anti-access military systems─those aimed at keeping ships and other forces out of an area. The report said China's cyberespionage was designed to benefit China's defense and technology industry and to gain insight into U.S. policy makers' thinking on China.
'China is using its computer network exploitation capability to support intelligence collection against the U.S. diplomatic, economic, and defense industrial base sectors that support U.S. national defense programs,' according to the report, an annual assessment prepared at the direction of Congress.
A spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in Washington said officials in Beijing planned to address the report on Tuesday.
The report says China has deployed antiship cruise missiles aboard its naval vessels, and has been advancing its development of ballistic missiles that could threaten American naval vessels.
While the development of the antiship missiles, including the DF-21D, has long been discussed by the Pentagon, the report marks the first time the Pentagon says the missile was deployed with at least a limited operational capability.
It has a range of more than 930 miles and has a maneuverable warhead that makes it more accurate. The report said the antiship missile 'gives the PLA the capability to attack large ships, including aircraft carriers, in the western Pacific Ocean.'
At a briefing at the Pentagon, David Helvey, the deputy assistant secretary of defense for East Asia, didn't say whether China had the necessary satellite network in place to allow its missiles to hit moving ships. But he noted that China had conducted 'a significant number of space launches' in the past year. 'It's something that we're watching very, very carefully,' he said.
Outside defense analysts noted that the report clearly outlined the implications of China's military modernization and the expansion of its focus from Taiwan to the wider region.
'China is going back to its historical role in the world. Put in simpler terms it means China is expanding its influence into other areas,' said Anthony Cordesman, a defense analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
Mr. Cordesman said the report was more detailed than previous iterations. He also said over time, the annual Pentagon document has become more balanced, analytical and useful.
'If you happen to be Chinese in China and you want to get a clear picture of China's military efforts you are going to have to read a U.S. document.'
JULIAN E. BARNES
美報告指中國政府和軍方從事網絡間諜活動
美
國五角大樓週一說﹐中國政府以美國政府計算機系統為侵入目標。相比之前的說法﹐美國這次對中國從事網絡間諜活動的指控更為直接。長久以來﹐美國官員一直稱中國是網絡間諜活動的首要實施者﹐而五角大樓新發佈的報告則更進一步﹐稱部分網絡入侵與中國政府和軍方直接相關。
報告還簡要陳述了中國在研發新海軍艦船、先進戰鬥機以及反介入軍事系統方面的投資。反介入軍事系統的目的是不讓艦船和其它武裝力量進入某區域。報告說﹐中國網絡間諜旨在惠及中國國防科技產業﹐洞察美國決策者對中國的看法。
報告說﹐中國正非法利用計算機網絡來支持其針對美國外交、經濟和國防工業基礎部門的情報收集工作﹐這些基礎部門對美國國防計劃起到支撐作用。該報告屬於年度評估文件﹐在美國國會的指導下完成。
中國駐美國大使館發言人說﹐北京方面打算週二對該報告做出回應。
報告說﹐中國已在軍艦上部署了反艦導彈﹐並且中國一直在推進彈道導彈的研發。彈道導彈可對美國海軍艦船造成威脅。
雖然五角大樓一直在討論中國對包括DF-21D在內的反艦導彈的研發﹐但這份報告是五角大樓首次說中國已部署該導彈﹐而且至少具備有限作戰能力。
彈道導彈的射程約為1,500公里﹐可攜帶命中精更高的機動彈頭。報告說﹐反艦導彈讓中國人民解放軍有能力襲擊位於西太平洋的大型艦船﹐包括航空母艦。
美國國防部負責東亞事務的代理助理部長赫爾維(David Helvey)沒有在五角大樓吹風會上談及中國是否已具備導彈擊中移動艦船所需的衛星網絡。但他指出﹐過去一年中國開展了大量太空發射活動。赫爾維說﹐我們正非常、非常密切地關注此事。
五角大樓以外的防務問題分析人士指出﹐報告明確論述了中國軍事現代化的影響和該國焦點從台灣到更廣范地區的擴展。
美 國戰略與國際研究中心(Center for Strategic and International Studies)防務分析師科德斯曼(Anthony Cordesman)說﹐中國將重新在世界舞台上扮演其在過去的歷史上曾扮演過角色﹔更簡單地說﹐就是中國正將影響力擴大至其它地方。
科德斯曼說﹐報告內容比以前更具體。他還說﹐這些年來﹐五角大樓的這份年度文件變得更客觀、分析更有條理﹐也更有用。
科德斯曼說﹐如果你剛好是身在中國的中國人﹐想好好瞭解中國在軍事建設方面的努力﹐那就一定要看看美國文件。
JULIAN E. BARNES
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