The Chinese Ministry of National Defense has denounced a U.S. intelligence report labeling China as a cyber threat, calling it a hypocritical attempt to deflect scrutiny from America's own cybersecurity record. Defense spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang asserted during a Wednesday briefing that Washington “often accuses others of actions it itself has taken,” pointing to historical incidents like WikiLeaks, the Snowden revelations, and the Stellar Wind surveillance program.
The rebuttal follows the publication of the U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence’s 2025 Annual Threat Assessment, which Beijing claims falsely portrays China as a malicious actor in cyberspace. Zhang emphasized that the U.S. remains “the main source of cyberattacks against China” and urged Washington to stop “acting like a thief crying ‘stop thief.’”
Analysts suggest the exchange underscores deepening mistrust in U.S.-China technology relations, with cybersecurity becoming a key battleground for geopolitical influence. The ministry called for multilateral efforts to restore “a clean and secure cyberspace” through responsible governance.
