China denies web attacks

CHINA denied involvement in internet attacks and defended its online restrictions as lawful yesterday, after the US urged Beijing to investigate a computer attack against search engine giant Google.

The firm announced on January 12 that it would pull out of China unless the government relaxes its rules on censorship. The ultimatum came after Google said email accounts of human rights activists critical of China had been hacked.

Since then, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has criticised the censorship of cyberspace, drawing a strong counterattack from Beijing. The Foreign Ministry on Friday said her remarks damaged bilateral relations, while a Chinese state newspaper said Washington was imposing “information imperialism” on China.