US government, business leaders push China on cyberattacks, Internet censorship

At a rare event featuring both American and Chinese government officials, U.S. diplomats and business leaders tried using economic arguments to persuade China to stop its cyberattacks and Internet censorship.

China’s heavy-handed Web restrictions not only slow Internet speeds and make company data less secure, they also have “tangible economic” effects on the country, said Gary Locke, the U.S. ambassador to China. Undersecretary of State Robert Hormats was even more blunt in calling out China for its actions. “I ask my Chinese friends to question whether this kind of activity serves China’s real interests as it seeks to attack high-end investment, aims to develop international markets for its innovative products, and wants its companies welcomed and respected as they increasingly invest around the world,” Hormats said.