Chinese spys hack into US companies developing COVID-19 vaccine

[Catalpha]

US charges Chinese Covid-19 research 'cyber-spies'

The US justice department has accused China of sponsoring hackers who are targeting labs developing Covid-19 vaccines.

Officials have charged two Chinese men who allegedly spied on US companies doing coronavirus research and got help from state agents for other thefts.

The indictment comes amid a US crackdown on Chinese cyber espionage.

The UK, US and Canada last week accused Russia of seeking to steal research related to Covid-19.

The accusations against former electrical engineering students Li Xiaoyu and Dong Jiazhi released on Tuesday include charges of trade secret theft and wire fraud conspiracy.

[Catalpha]

Chinese consulate in Houston ordered to close by US

The US has ordered China to close its consulate in Houston, Texas, by Friday - a move described as "political provocation" by Beijing.

The US State Department said the decision was taken "in order to protect American intellectual property".

But China's foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said it was "outrageous and unjustified".

The statements came after unidentified individuals were filmed burning paper in bins in the building's courtyard.

Tensions have been rising between the US and China for some time. President Donald Trump's administration has clashed repeatedly with Beijing over trade and the coronavirus pandemic, as well as China's imposition of a controversial new security law on Hong Kong.

Then on Tuesday, the US Department of Justice accused China of sponsoring hackers who had been targeting labs developing Covid-19 vaccines . Two Chinese nationals, who allegedly spied on US research companies and got help from state agents for other thefts, have been charged.

Why did the US say it was closing the consulate?

The US State Department released a statement shortly after Mr Wang spoke on Wednesday.

"We have directed the closure of PRC [People's Republic of China] Consulate General Houston, in order to protect American intellectual property and American's private information," State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said.

The consulate is one of five in the US, not counting the embassy in Washington DC. It is unclear why this one was singled out.

[DummyVariable]

 

[Catalpha]

3 hours ago, DummyVariable said:

 

And closed the consulate

[Anta Assamey]

[Mirage]