If Chinese spies broke into an American government building and stole important documents, or were seen planting explosives in the electric grid, uproar or worse would ensue. Yet state-supported Chinese hackers have, officials say, been getting away with the digital equivalent for years, with notably little response.Now President Barack Obama’s administration has drafted economic sanctions against Chinese companies that it believes have profited from trade secrets stolen from American firms. Amid wrangles inside the administration, there are hints that they could come into force soon, though probably not before Xi Jinping, China’s president, visits Washington this month.
http://www.economist.com/news/united-states/21664145-americas-computers-and-networks-are-under-attack-retaliation-against-chinese-hackers
America’s computers and networks are under attack. Retaliation against Chinese hackers looms
If Chinese spies broke into an American government building and stole important documents, or were seen planting explosives in the electric grid, uproar or worse would ensue. Yet state-supported Chinese hackers have, officials say, been getting away with the digital equivalent for years, with notably little response.