Snowden affair clouds U.S. attempts to press China to curb cyber theft

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Revelations by former U.S. spy agency contractor Edward Snowden will make it harder for the United States to confront China at talks this week over the alleged cyber theft of trade secrets worth hundreds of billions of dollars each year....

"China would rather have the waters muddy, because they can say 'You do it. We do it. What's the big deal?' and the cyber theft against companies will go on and on," he said by telephone from China, where he is senior counselor for APCO Worldwide, a U.S. business consultancy....

Many countries spy on each other, but U.S. officials say China is unique in the amount of state-sponsored IP theft it carries out as it tries to catch up with the United States in economic power and technological prowess....

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce hopes "to see a clear indication that China recognizes thefts of trade secrets, whether by cyber or other means, is stealing property and will bring the full force of its laws to curb this," said Jeremie Waterman, the group's senior director for Greater China....


Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/07/08/us-usa-china-cyber-idUSBRE96713220130708