China threatens Google for hacking charge

BEIJING, June 6 (UPI) -- China harshly chastised and threatened Google Monday for its allegations of hacking attacks based in the Asian nation.

Last week, the U.S. Internet titan said it had thwarted an effort emanating from Jinan, Shandong province, to steal the passwords of hundreds of Gmail users, including high-ranking U.S. officials, Chinese journalists and dissidents.

In a front-page broadside in the overseas edition of the People's Daily Monday, the Foreign Ministry declared: "Google's accusations aimed at China are spurious, have ulterior motives and bear malign intentions.

"Google should not become overly embroiled in international political struggle, playing the role of a tool for political contention," the column added. "For when the international winds shift direction, it may become sacrificed to politics and will be spurned by the marketplace."

The denunciation, which did not spell out consequences, was reported by the International Business Times.

Last week, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei denied China was responsible for the attack and said it opposed sabotage of the Internet and computer security, the Shanghai Daily reported.

"Allegations that the Chinese government supports hacking activities are completely unfounded and made with ulterior motives," he said.

Google said the attacks came from China but did not directly accuse the government.