Vice-minister calls US cybersecurity gripes hypocritical

China has criticized the United States for being hypocritical and hegemonic in cybersecurity and urged it to stop eavesdropping on other countries and individuals, said a senior Chinese diplomat, following a series of spats between the two countries involving cyberspace.

Li Baodong, vice-foreign minister, accused the US of having a double standard on the cyber issue, drawing lines out of its selfish interests, and concocting "regulations" only applicable to other countries, "instead of reflecting on its own behavior that undermines the sovereignty of other countries and the privacy of citizens".

Li made the remarks at an International Workshop on Information and Cyber Security on Thursday in Beijing, the first such discussion that China and the United Nations held together.