China Says U.S. Internet Accusations Could Harm Ties

China says U.S. criticism of its alleged restrictions on the Internet could harm relations between the two nations.

On January 21, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, in a major speech on Internet freedom, urged China to investigate cyberattacks that led Google to threaten to pull out of the country -- and challenged Beijing to openly publish its findings.

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, Ma Zhaoxu, today said such accusations were "groundless" and "harmful" to bilateral ties.

The spokesman also said that each side should handle sensitive issues "protecting the health and stable development of China-U.S. relations."

compiled from agency reports