The Pentagon confirmed Tuesday that multiple governments and non-state actors were working to breach US military computer systems, following a British newspaper report that China's People's Liberation Army had done so successfully earlier in the year.
The Financial Times, citing unnamed current and former US officials, reported that a PLA cyber operation in June forced a temporary shutdown of the unclassified email system in Defense Secretary Robert Gates' office. The Pentagon declined to comment on that specific incident.
Spokesman Patrick Ryder acknowledged that "a variety of state and non-state sponsored organizations" had attempted unauthorized access to Defense Department networks. He confirmed the email outage in Gates' office but said the system was restored quickly with no operational damage and only minor administrative disruptions.
China's foreign ministry denied the accusations. A spokeswoman in Beijing said elements within the United States were attempting to undermine improving military ties between the two countries.
The disclosure came alongside German media reports that espionage software traced to the PLA had been found on systems at Chancellor Angela Merkel's office, the German foreign ministry, and other government agencies in Berlin, a matter Merkel had raised directly with Premier Wen Jiabao during his visit.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in September 2007, in its own words.