Chinese govt spies are trying to steal research about coronavirus vaccines, China govt says nuh uh we are best at stopping virus!

Washington: The US government plans to issue a warning that hackers tied to the Chinese government are attempting to steal information from researchers working to develop a coronavirus vaccine, US officials said.

The warning from the FBI and Department of Homeland Security will also specify the threat as coming from "non-traditional actors" such as Chinese students and researchers in the United States, said one official, who like others interviewed, spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the issue's sensitivity.

"These actors have been observed attempting to identify and obtain valuable intellectual property and public health data," a draft of the warning says, according to the official.

There is no indication that any attempt thus far has been successful, said a second official. The expected warning should be out within a week or so.

Asked about the warning, which was first reported by the New York Times, Zhao Lijian, the spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said, "We firmly oppose and fight all kinds of cyber attacks conducted by hackers. We are leading the world in COVID-19 treatment and vaccine research. It is immoral to target China with rumours and slanders in the absence of any evidence."

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