Jason Lee/Reuters
China has been quick to threaten the U.S. after Monday’s charges against five Chinese officers for cyberspying. China’s foreign minister demanded that the U.S. withdraw the indictment, while Beiing suspended cooperation on a joint cybersecurity task force. U.S. Ambassador to China Max Baucus was reportedly called to meet with Assistant Foreign Minister Zheng Zeguang. The state news agency reported that Zheng called the U.S. “overbearing and hypocritical” and threatened that China “will take further action on the so-called charges by the United States.” The ministry of defense said in a statement that the indictment “causes serious damage to mutual trust.” It is the first time the U.S. government has filed criminal hacking charges against specific foreign officials.