According to a recent confidential report, Chinese hackers have compromised or gained access to a sensitive weaponry system of United States.
Pentagon has provided the Defense Science Board with a document that says that more than 24 key systems for weapons have been affected by the hacking activity and that includes systems for fighter jets, missile defense, navy vessels and helicopters.
The defense systems which have been listed in the said report includes PAC-3 or Advanced Patriot missile system, Black Hawk Helicopter, F/A-18 fighter jet and V-22 Osprey which has the feature of performing vertical landings and takeoffs.
The report which has been published by Washington Post does not clarify about how the compromise occurred and the authors of the report refrained short of condemning the Chinese government for trying to steal such information.
However, the senior officials of military sources have directly pointed towards the involvement of China. They told the post that the Chinese are conducting a wide-scale campaign against US defense agencies and Defense Contractors of the government.
The report also mentioned that such information can help China in speeding up the process of development of its weaponry systems and can give this Asian Giant an advantage or edge in case of any armed conflict with the United States.
Mark Strokes who is an executive director of a think tank involved in focusing on Asian defense issues mentioned that the list which features the affected systems is a staggering one. The think tank is named as Project 2049 institute.
Mark also added that the systems affected are very critical to our national security issues and this compromise is quite breathtaking.
A senior official of the military who has asked not to mention his name said that china has saved almost 25 years of research through hacking such information and has gained a combat advantage of billions of dollars.
China has however rejected any such compromise.
Back in March, Thomas Donilon who is security advisor to President Barack Obama has said that cyber-hacks have now crossed all records and boundaries. He also took an unusual step of publicly calling the Beijing government and has asked them to take serious steps in investigating the activities which are being allegedly conducted against the interests of US.
On Monday, Mr. Donilon has met the Chinese president before the two-day summit which will be conducted between Mr. Barack Obama and Mr. Xi on 7th June in California.
Reports say that Mr. Donilon has told the Chinese president that Mr. Barack Obama is looking forward to resolving any difference that exists between the two states and is also looking forward to developing practical cooperation and trust.
According to the state operated Media of China, Mr. Xi said that the relations between the two countries have been at a critical stage.
Mr. Donilon in a meeting with Mr. Fan Changlong who is a senior military leader of the Chinese has asked that both the countries should enhance their military and security ties and should work together for piracy, disaster relief, and peacekeeping.
Issues related to cyber attacks are being considered as the main agenda of the meeting between the two leaders which will be held in California.
The Australian ABC television has also claimed on Monday that some Chinese hackers have stolen blueprints for their new domestic spy agency headquarters which costs around £ 400 million.
Hong Lei, who is a spokesman for China’s foreign ministry stated that we pay a lot of attention to any cyber security issues are totally against any type of hacking activities.
