FBI, DHS to accuse China of hacking virus researchers

The FBI and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) are planning to accuse China of trying to hack U.S. research on the coronavirus, according to multiple reports.

The public warning is likely to be issued in coming days, officials told The New York Times, which first reported on the warning Sunday.

A draft claims China is seeking “valuable intellectual property and public health data through illicit means related to vaccines, treatments and testing,” according to the Times.

The warning was not finalized and plans around its release could change, a person familiar with the matter told The Wall Street Journal.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said Monday that Beijing opposes all forms of cyberattacks, the Journal noted.

“China is leading in the research of COVID-19 vaccine and treatment. It is immoral for anyone to engage in rumor-mongering without presenting any evidence,” he said in a briefing.

The Trump administration has accused Beijing of stealing intellectual property in the past, and the expected accusation regarding attempted hacks of coronavirus research could lead to increased tensions between the U.S. and China.

Trump administration officials have already criticized China for its handling of the outbreak, which is believed to have originated in Wuhan.