China knocks Trump over suggestion it was behind cyberattack

A spokesman for China’s foreign ministry is dismissing President Trump’s assertion that Chinese agents could have been involved in a wide-ranging cyberattack that struck several U.S. government agencies. 

Russia is widely suspected of carrying out the hack, and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Attorney General William Barr have both said they believe Moscow is responsible. But Trump on Saturday said it could have been China. 

Wang Wenbin told reporters during a press conference Monday that the president’s suggestion, made on Twitter, amounted to spreading “false information” without any evidence and encouraged the U.S. to be “responsible” with claims about cybersecurity issues, according to The Associated Press.

“The United States has politicized the issue of cybersecurity without conclusive evidence and continuously spread false information and thrown mud at China in an attempt to tarnish China’s image,” said Wang.

“We hope the United States will take a more responsible attitude on cyber security,” he said.

The hack reportedly breached systems at the U.S. Commerce Department, Treasury, and other agencies. The president downplayed the severity of the attack while pointing the finger at China, and not Russia.

Trump has frequently been criticized by Democrats and some Republicans for being dismissive of charges against Moscow, which U.S. intelligence officials determined had interviewed in the 2016 election to hurt Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton’s campaign. 

Trump has seen such assertions as questioning his 2016 victory in the presidential election.