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"The PRC’s behavior in cyberspace is an extension of its
counterproductive actions throughout the COVID-19 pandemic,"
Pompeo said in a statement.
"While the United States and our allies and partners are
coordinating a collective, transparent response to save lives,
the PRC continues to silence scientists, journalists, and
citizens, and to spread disinformation, which has exacerbated
the dangers of this health crisis," he said.
Pompeo's comments came a day after the Federal Bureau of
Investigation and the Department of Homeland Security issued a
joint statement to raise awareness against what they called
threats to coronavirus-related research from actors related to
China.
It said the FBI was investigating digital break-ins at U.S.
organizations by China-linked "cyber actors" that it had
monitored "attempting to identify and illicitly obtain valuable
intellectual property (IP) and public health data related to
vaccines, treatments, and testing from networks and personnel
affiliated with COVID-19-related research."
The FBI-Homeland Security statement offered no further details
on the identities of the targets or the hackers. The Chinese
Embassy in Washington condemned the allegations as "lies."
Pompeo has been among the Trump administration oustpoken critics
of China, accusing it of covering up the earlier days of the
outbreak and refusing to share information as ties between
Washington and Beijing have sharply deteriorated.
(Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk; Editing by Chris Reese and David
Gregorio)
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