Clinton’s Criticism of the Chinese Regime Highlights Their Odd Relationship

Hillary Clinton on June 18, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ethan Miller/Getty Images

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is “trying to hack into everything that doesn’t move in America,” said former U.S. Secretary of State and Democratic Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton during a July 4 campaign rally in New Hampshire.

This theft includes commercial secrets and blueprints from defense contractors, Clinton said according to TIME. “Make no mistake: They know they’re in a competition, and they’re going to do everything they can to win it.”

Clinton also called out the Chinese regime for its rapid militarization, and its land-grab in the South China Sea.

She said that while she wants to “see a peaceful rise for China,” according to CNN, “we also have to be fully vigilant that China’s military is growing very quickly and they are establishing military installations that again threaten countries we have treaties with, like the Philippines, because they are building on contested property.”

Chinese authorities responded to Clinton’s comments with an uncharacteristically light response.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told Reuters that China and the United States have a “constructive spirit” for “strengthening dialogue and cooperation to jointly face various challenges.”

Hua also dropped the “peace and prosperity” line when referring to U.S.-China relations, which is a stark departure from China’s common response to U.S. criticisms against its cybertheft—which it typically calls “groundless accusations” and follows with criticisms against U.S. spy operations.

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