US accuses China of cyberspying on American companies

ANOTHER SALVO: Officials in Washington have argued for years that cyberespionage is a top national security concern, particularly by China.

The United States has charged five Chinese military officers and accused them of hacking into American nuclear, metal and solar companies to steal trade secrets, ratcheting up tensions between the two world powers over cyberespionage. 

China immediately denied the charges, saying in a strongly worded Foreign Ministry statement the US grand jury indictment was "made up" and would damage trust between the two nations.