U.S. officials blame China's government, or agents acting on its behalf, for the theft of neutron bomb designs, the defense secretary's e-mails, and private sector intellectual property worth billions of dollars.
Indeed, the Financial Times recently reported that the People's Liberation Army (PLA) already has partnered with China's private sector to form "cyber militias," units of young computer programmers tasked with cyber attacks and cyber defense.
For instance, Nanhao Group, a Hengshui-based technology company that makes educational hardware and software, has been home to a PLA-sponsored cyber militia since 2005, according toThe FT.
"All staff under 30 belong to the unit," Nanhao Vice President Bai Guolian told the paper.
Bai confirmed that its cyber militia unit was led by the local PLA command and has "regular exchanges" with it, training PLA officers. Asked whether the group would carry out cyber attacks, he said: "That has nothing to do with you."
The Nanhao cyber militia is one of thousands, The FT said.
Indeed, the PLA first made cyber security and espionage a priority in 1999 and has been collecting external talent for its operations since 2002. In addition to its cyber militias, the PLA sponsors information warfare research and hacking competitions at universities.
That has the United States and other Western countries playing catch-up.
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