Update | China warns Washington it could take 'further action' over US hacking charges
The US Justice Department on Monday indicted five members of the Chinese military on charges they stole US secrets through hacking to aid state-owned companies. Beijing quickly rejected the claims
Watch: US indicts five members of China military for hacking
China summoned the US ambassador after the United States accused five Chinese military officers of hacking into American companies to steal trade secrets, warning Washington it could take "further action", state media said today.
The US Ambassador to China, Max Baucus, met with Zheng Zeguang, assistant foreign minister, shortly after the United States charged the five Chinese, accusing them of hacking into American nuclear, metal and solar companies to steal trade secrets.
Zheng "protested" the actions by the United States, saying the indictment had seriously harmed relations between both countries, state news agency Xinhua said.
Zheng told Baucus that depending on the development of the situation, China "will take further action on the so-called charges by the United States".
The Chinese are accused of targeting big-name American makers of nuclear and solar technology, and stealing confidential business information, sensitive trade secrets and internal communications for competitive advantage, according to a grand jury indictment which the Chinese government swiftly denied.
