China summons U.S. ambassador over cyber-spying accusations: Xinhua

 A lock icon, signifying an encrypted Internet connection, is seen on an Internet Explorer browser in a file photo illustration in Paris April 15, 2014. Credit: Reuters/Mal Langsdon/Files

A lock icon, signifying an encrypted Internet connection, is seen on an Internet Explorer browser in a file photo illustration in Paris April 15, 2014.
Credit: Reuters/Mal Langsdon/Files

(Reuters) – China’s Foreign Ministry summoned the U.S. ambassador to China on Tuesday and urged him to cancel charges against five Chinese military officers accused of hacking into American companies to steal trade secrets, state news agency Xinhua said.

In a separate statement, China’s defense ministry said the government and the military have never engaged in cyberspying on businesses. It called on the United States to immediately stop spying on China, saying that the charges have seriously damaged trust between the two militaries.