China’s president heads body to co-ordinate cybersecurity

BEIJING, China – Chinese President Xi Jinping has put himself in charge of a new body to co-ordinate cybersecurity, in a sign of Beijing’s concern over its vulnerability to online attacks and desire to control the Internet.

Reports in state media Friday say the central Internet security and information leading group will draft policy for boosting the country’s defences, as well as expanding and improving Internet access.

Xi also is quoted as saying online opinion must be properly guided. China has 618 million Internet users, the most of any country.

China’s military is believed to be among the biggest targets of the U.S. National Security Agency and U.S. Cyber Command.

The U.S. has also accused China’s army of launching attacks on American industrial and military targets to steal secrets.

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