The Guardian reports: China has warned that revelations of electronic surveillance on a huge scale by American intelligence agencies will “test developing Sino-US ties” and exacerbate their “soured relationship” on cybersecurity.

The assessment in an article and editorial carried by the state-run China Daily represents the first official comment in state media as China grapples with the presence in Hong Kong of Edward Snowden, the US analyst who revealed himself as the source of the Guardian exposé.

Quoting analysts, the China Daily said the “massive US global surveillance programme … is certain to stain Washington’s overseas image” and pointedly referred to Washington recently levelling claims of hacking at other governments, including China’s.

“Observers said how the case is handled could pose a challenge to the burgeoning goodwill between Beijing and Washington given that Snowden is in Chinese territory and the Sino-US relationship is constantly soured on cybersecurity,” the paper said. [Continue reading…]