Gordon Chang to Newsmax: Chinese Hacking 'Is Our Fault'

The American government has the means to stop China's hacking into U.S. telecommunications systems, but hasn't had the will, author and China expert Gordon Chang told Newsmax on Sunday.

"The American people should be upset at the Chinese, but we should be outraged at our leaders for not taking these measures that we can," Chang told Newsmax's "Wake Up America Weekend." "We Americans have the power to stop this. We can impose costs on China that are greater than the benefits that China perceives it obtains. But we don't do it. I mean, we have the means. We don't do it. This is our fault."

The United States has been aware of Chinese hacking "since the beginning of this century, even before that, and we have not taken adequate measures to protect the networks," he added. "That's why the Chinese have been able to get at least these nine American telcos reading every text message, every email, and listening in on every phone call if they want to," Chang said, referring to the top nine U.S. telecommunications companies.

Chang said that he hopes that when President-elect Donald Trump takes office, he mandates that all American telecommunications providers take precautions and meet standards.

"I also think what he needs to do is to go after the Chinese asymmetrically" through "enormous tariffs," he said.

"The Chinese need access to the U.S. market," Chang said. "If he can deny access to a large portion of the U.S. market, China will get the message."

But the United States must have the political will to take action, he added.

If not, "the Chinese will continue this because they perceive great benefits from basically getting [access to] every telecommunication device," said Chang. "So clearly we need to do something more, and I hope President Trump will do that."

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