Top Chinese General: Cyberattacks Could Be "As Serious As A Nuclear Bomb"

U.S. Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, greets Lt. Gen. Wang Guanzhong, deputy chief of staff of the Chinese army, and his staff upon his arrival in Beijing, April 20, 2013. DOD photo by D. Myles Cullen

China: Cyberattacks Are Like Nuclear Bombs -- Wall Street Journal

BEIJING—Cyberattacks could be "as serious as a nuclear bomb," according to a top Chinese general, who rejected suggestions that the Chinese military is behind cyberspying aimed at Western companies.

General Fang Fenghui, chief of staff of the People's Liberation Army, made the comments after meeting with his U.S. counterpart Martin Dempsey, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Cybersecurity was one of a number of sensitive issues covered. The Obama administration is considering options to confront Beijing over the issue, including trade sanctions, diplomatic pressure and indictments of Chinese nationals in U.S. courts.

Asked at a news conference on Monday about allegations the PLA sponsors hacking attacks on Western companies to steal commercial secrets, Gen. Fang repeated China itself is a victim of cyberattacks.

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Update #1: China General With Dempsey Compares Cyber-Attack to Nuclear Bomb -- Bloomberg Businessweek
Update #2: In US-China talks on cyber conflict, a top Chinese general owns to dangers -- Christian Science Monitor

My Comment: I have always compared a major cyberattack that shuts down our digital economy to that of a neutron bomb. The buildings are standing .... nothing has been displaced .... but there are victims everywhere.