On February 20, 2013, Xinhua published a commentary in response to the report, released by Virginia-based information Security Company Mandiant Corporation, on the Chinese military’s involvement in a series of cyber attacks on U.S. and foreign corporations and entities. The Xinhua commentary speculated that the purpose of Mandiant Corporation’s report was marketing hype: “Hurry up to buy our company’s security software and services; the more the better.”

Xinhua denied that there was any relationships between the Chinese military (People’s Liberation Army Unit 61398 based in a Shanghai tower) and the cyber attacks on American companies. The commentary asserted that few professional hackers openly use their own IP address to attack others. Further, Xinhua criticized the U.S. military for its previous cyber attack on Iran.

Source: Xinhua, February, 20, 2013
http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2013-02/20/c_114741635.htm

In an article published in the International Herald, Yuan Peng, a U.S. expert with the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations, listed three reasons why the U.S. keeps harping on the “China Hacker Threat”: 1) The U.S. believes that China has the capability of launching cyber attacks. 2) A few news media and commercial companies continue to malign China because they fear that their own trade secrets will be leaked and they also look at China as their enemy. 3) They deliberately dwell on the cyber threat issue in order to pave the way for the expansion of their cyber team and to build a foundation for possible future cyber wars.

As to how China should react, the article had two suggestions: 1) Stop the rumor at the early stage. 2) Strengthen the development of China’s cyber power in order to build a strong defense and management capability.

Source: International Herald, February 22, 2013
http://ihl.cankaoxiaoxi.com/2013/0222/168494.shtml

Xinhua carried an article, originally published in Beijing Evening News, which suggested that Hillary’s departure may help to improve the US-China relationship. The article stated that, during her four year term, Hillary shifted the U.S. focus back to the Asia pacific region and upended the U.S. attitude towards China. As Secretary of State, she had a strong influence on the President’s foreign policy. The article said that Hillary belongs to the group that holds hostile feelings toward China. It also suggested that Kerry, as Hillary’s replacement, may be easier to deal with. The article also speculated that U.S. foreign policy toward China may remain unchanged despite how different Kerry’s personality is.

Source: Xinhua, Feb 1, 2013
http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2013-02/01/c_124312548.htm?prolongation=1

Xinhua military commentator Zheng Wenhao published an article in response to the cyber attack issue raised in the United States. Zheng observed that recent U.S. media reports declared that Chinese hackers, who were associated with China’s military, had made a large number of vicious attacks against U.S. companies and government entities. He countered that it is the U.S. military that has the world’s most vicious and powerful hacker organization.