China reiterates denial in cyberattacks after Airbus report

(Reuters) — China's Foreign Ministry reiterated a denial of involvement in cyberattacks on Friday after French news agency AFP published a report that linked recent attacks on planemaker Airbus to China.

"China resolutely opposes any form of cyberattack," Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said at a daily media briefing. Recent reports are irresponsible, unprofessional, and have ulterior motives, he said.

A series of cyberattacks on Airbus in the past few months was conducted via the computer systems of its suppliers and security sources suspect a link to China, AFP reported on Thursday.

An Airbus spokesman said the company was "aware of cyber events" and like any major high-tech industrial player it is a target for "malicious acts."

Airbus "continuously monitors" such threats through detection systems and can take "immediate and appropriate measures to protect itself at all times," he said.