Recently, 2 U.S. congressmen stated that their computers had been hacked by someone within China. While this is not really newsworthy, I was floored by the response of the Chinese Foreign Ministry. A spokesman for the ministry stated : “Is there any evidence? Do we have such advanced technology? Even I don’t believe it.” Now anyone that has seen the inside of any computer in the last decade can tell you one thing for certain. Somewhere inside the Pandora’s box that is a home or laptop computer, is the sticker “Made in China.” As to how in the world they would be able to build all of these machines, and yet still not possess the ability to “Have such advanced technology” seems to be a bit of a paradox. Are we to assume that not even the manufacturer of computers knows how they work? I know that I have only the dimmest of understandings on how these things work, and that every 5 years brings a new dictionary full of terms that had to be invented as the pace of technology seems to be exceeding the speed of light, leaving us old folks to reminisce about the days before cell phones and computers. You want to tell scary stories to kids nowadays, tell them that there was only three major channels to watch T.V. on, and that not only were home computers a novelty with only a green screen, but that there was no practical internet until the 1990’s! And tell them how the only phones that weren’t hardwired into a home were in a few limousines, and Dantana’s car in the old T.V. series of “Vegas.” But I digress, as usual.
Where the Hell was I? Right, the unintentionally funny Chinese. The FBI looked into the hacking of the congressmens’ computers, and indeed found that the hacks originated within China, which isn’t really a surprise to anyone with a pulse. The congressmen surmised that they had been targeted because they had spoke out in the past about China’s abysmal human rights record. What is most shocking of all is that both congressmen that were attacked were Republicans, Frank Wolf of Virginia, and Chris Smith of New Jersey. Well, it shocked me.
The Chinese Ministry spokesman, Qin Gang, went on with his comedic routine. Qin also said “I’d like to urge some people in the U.S. to not be so paranoid. They should do more to contribute to mutual understanding, trust and friendship between the U.S. and China.” At this point, Qin was asked whatever happened to the man that stood in front of the tank in Tiananmen square back in 1989, and naturally Qin had this reporter arrested. The reporter was later released when it was determined that they were not actually in China, and that only Republicans arrested reporters in the U.S. (See: Valerie Plame)
