Prime Minister Denies Aiding Cyberattacks

China's new Premier Li Keqiang gave the highest-level denial yet to U.S. accusations that the country supports cyberattacks, an issue that in recent months has become a key sticking point in Sino-U.S. relations.

Speaking to Chinese and foreign reporters March 17 in his first news conference since his formal appointment as premier Friday, Mr. Li declared hacking and cyberattacks "a world-wide problem" and reiterated Beijing's stance that the country is a victim rather than an instigator. "China itself is a main target of such attacks," Li said, adding, "I think we shouldn't make groundless accusations against each other, and spend more time doing practical things that will contribute to cybersecurity." Li was speaking at the premier's traditional news conference at the end of the annual meeting of China's National People's Congress.