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China: U.S. Hacking Claims Faulty

Defense Ministry spokesman Geng Yansheng said Thursday the claims contained "errors in judgment" and underestimated the Pentagon's ability to protect its secrets. He said China is capable of producing the weaponry needed for its own defense and pointed to recent breakthroughs such as the country's first aircraft carrier.

BEIJING (AP) -- China's Defense Ministry says recent allegations of hacking of Pentagon defense programs are faulty and underestimate China's ability to produce its own defensive weaponry.

Newly publicized claims allege that China employed cyberattacks to access data from nearly 40 Pentagon weapons programs and almost 30 other defense technologies ranging from missile defense systems to the F-35 joint strike fighter.

Defense Ministry spokesman Geng Yansheng said Thursday the claims contained "errors in judgment" and underestimated the Pentagon's ability to protect its secrets. He said China is capable of producing the weaponry needed for its own defense and pointed to recent breakthroughs such as the country's first aircraft carrier, new generation fighter jets, large transport planes and the Beidou satellite system.

China has consistently denied claims its military is engaged in hacking.

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