Google blames China for Gmail hacking

Liu Xiaoming, China’s ambassador to the UK, has described China as a ‘victim of cyber space crime.’ Google may not agree.

Following cyber attacks on several Gmail accounts, Google announced that the hacking had originated in China, thus prompting a reaction from Xiaoming.

The Chinese ambassador gave a speech at the Worldwide Cybersecurity Summit last week explaining China’s commitment to fighting global cyber threats, and why its Internet community should not be blamed for the attacks.

‘The Chinese government has always supported international co-operation in cyber security. Cyber security is a vital global issue," Liu said.

Liu explained how the Chinese were also facing an increased cyber security threat and so rather than blame China for the attack, which, according to Liu, was not factual, ‘the way forward is to jointly deter and fight cyber crime’.

Liu referred to summits held in the country on the issue of cyber security, making China an, ‘active player’ in the fight against cyber crime.

“China welcomes the establishment of bilateral and multilateral dialogue and agendas on cyber security to settle international differences," he said.

Thanks to China’s intense censorship of the Internet – or the ‘Great Firewall’ – cyber crime is apparently down. Hacking of websites decreased by 21.5 per cent between 2009 and 2011, and spam originating in China is on a decline.

However, Liu could provide no source for these statistics.

"Cyber space has enhanced productivity and people's living standards, and promoted economic and social progress," he said. This is what one would hope.