US report: China military cyber capability a threat

A US Congressional report warns that China's cyber-warfare capability has become a serious threat to the US military.The report was released on Thursday by the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission. The commission is an independent body created by Congress to investigate the national security implications of US trade with China.The report says the Chinese military has integrated cyber-warfare into its major military drills since 2009.

It adds that Chinese capabilities in computer network operations have advanced to the point where they pose a genuine risk to US military operations in the event of a conflict.The report calls on the US government to deal with the situation immediately. It warns that Chinese keyboard-launched attacks could delay or degrade a potential military response in a possible conflict over Taiwan or disputes in the South China Sea.

Last week, the US commander for the Asia-Pacific region, Admiral Robert Willard, told a Congressional hearing that cyber attacks are the biggest threat to the US military.Concerns are mounting in the United States over possible cyber attacks by China and Russia.

Deliberations are currently under way in Congress over cyber security legislation to protect US networks, as there is currently no clear legal framework for counterattack measures.