US is real hacking empire: China

China has called the United States the real “hacking empire” following a report by the Pentagon that accused Beijing of trying to break into Washington’s defense computer network.

“As we all know, the United States is the real ‘hacking empire’ and has an extensive espionage network,” read a statement that ran on the website of China’s Defense Ministry.

Earlier, China’s Foreign Ministry also dismissed the recent accusations by Washington as groundless.

The Pentagon’s recent report accused China of running a hacking campaign against Washington in 2012, aimed at providing Beijing with information about America’s military capabilities and policy deliberations.

The Chinese statement further read, “Promoting the ‘China military threat theory’ can sow discord between China and other countries, especially its relationship with its neighboring countries, to contain China and profit from it.”

The statement also called Pentagon’s report a “gross interference in China’s internal affairs.”

Washington was “trumpeting China’s military threat to promote its domestic interests groups and arms dealers,” as the US has in recent years been trying to establish a military hegemony on the internet, the statement added.