US presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has accused China of stealing commercial secrets and “huge amounts of government information” and of trying to “hack into everything that doesn’t move in America”.
Ms Clinton’s language on China appeared to be far stronger than that usually used by president Barack Obama’s Democratic administration.
Speaking at a campaign event in New Hampshire, Ms Clinton said she wanted to see China’s peaceful rise.
“But we also have to be fully vigilant,” said the former secretary of state.
“China’s military is growing very quickly. They’re establishing military installations that again threaten countries we have treaties with like the Philippines because they are building on contested property.
“They’re also trying to hack into everything that doesn’t move in America. Stealing commercial secrets … from defence contractors, stealing huge amounts of government information, all looking for an advantage.”
Ms Clinton is the frontrunner to win the Democratic nomination for the November 2016 presidential election.
Asked about the remarks, a White House official declined to comment.
In the most recent case involving suspicions of Chinese hacking, Obama administration officials have said China was the top suspect in the massive hacking of a US government agency that compromised the personnel records of at least 4.2 million current and former workers.
Ms Clinton also addressed the current talks over Iran’s nuclear program and had strong words for Tehran.
The former first lady said she hoped that “a strong, verifiable deal” would be reached at talks in Vienna between world powers and Iran.
But she added that even with an agreement, “they will continue to be the principal state sponsor of terrorism”.
“They will continue to destabilise governments in the region and beyond. They will continue to use their proxies like Hezbollah, and they will continue to be an existential threat to Israel.”
The US, other world powers and Iran have set a deadline for Tuesday to reach a deal to curb Tehran’s nuclear program in exchange for a lifting of sanctions that have crippled Iran’s economy.
At the campaign event, Ms Clinton also said the US had to be “much smarter” about how it dealt with Russian president Vladimir Putin’s territorial ambitions.
She said Mr Putin’s moves to expand Russia’s boundaries, such as the annexation of Crimea, posed a challenge for the US but she touted her experience as America’s chief diplomat.
Ms Clinton noted that because of NATO members’ agreement to protect fellow members, had Ukraine been a member of NATO when Crimea was annexed, “that would have caused us to have to respond”.
She added on Putin: “I’ve dealt with him. I know him. He’s not an easy man … but I don’t think there is any substitute other than constant engagement.”
Reuters
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