The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Friday slammed US Attorney General William Barr's conspiracy theory about Chinese hackers stealing COVID-19 data from US universities and enterprises, saying China firmly upholds cybersecurity and leads in virus vaccine research.

(Photo: VCG)

"It is absurd of some US officials to accuse China of stealing COVID-19 data from the US,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying at a regular media conference. “China has always been a staunch upholder of cybersecurity and opposes cyber attacks and hacking activities in any form.”

She noted that China leads in the development of a COVID-19 vaccine and it was irresponsible on the US side to smear China with groundless accusations. 

"China has its own state-of-the-art scientists and doesn’t need to achieve our status by theft,” Hua said. "We have also been actively working with other countries in the development and distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine."

"Cybersecurity is a global problem that concerns the interests of all countries," Hua added. "Maintaining cybersecurity requires a joint effort by international society. A 'cold war' mindset will make the environment of cooperation toxic and be of no help to cybersecurity."