China: Don't blame us for satellite hacks

China says it was not behind a series of hacks against U.S. environment-monitoring satellites a few years ago.

The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission recently reported in a draft report that "the techniques appear consistent with authoritative Chinese military writings" that advocated disabling satellite control facilities in any conflict.

But speaking at a news briefing today, China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei bristled at claims that it was behind the hacks, which occurred in 2007 and 2008.

"This report is untrue and has ulterior motives," he said. "It's not worth a comment."

The attacks targeted a couple of American satellites, the Landsat-7 and Terra AM-1.

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