Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
U.S. says worried by cyber-attacks; committed to Asia
|
Edition:
U.S.
Article
Comments (0)
Follow Reuters
Facebook
Twitter
RSS
YouTube
Read
Investigator smelled foul odor in Casey Anthony's car
03 Jun 2011
Girl falls to death from New Jersey Ferris wheel
03 Jun 2011
"The world is getting warmer": Romney
03 Jun 2011
IPO VIEW-Morgan Stanley faces tricky Internet IPO pricings
03 Jun 2011
UPDATE 2-Italy to bring forward deficit-cutting decree-sources
23 May 2011
Discussed
78
150 economists back U.S. Republicans in debt fight
56
Moody’s sounds alarm over U.S. debt limit and deficits
46
Romney charges that Obama has ”failed America”
Watched
Scientists revive ancient spider in stunning 3D detail
Tue, May 24 2011
Blake Lively denies naked photos, Gaga's album goes number one
Thu, Jun 2 2011
Massive Australian waterspout caught on film
Mon, May 30 2011
U.S. says worried by cyber-attacks; committed to Asia
Tweet
Share this
Email
Print
Related News
U.S. weighs security after "serious" Google allegation
Thu, Jun 2 2011
Google reveals Gmail hacking, says likely from China
Thu, Jun 2 2011
Yemen on brink of civil war as clashes spread
Fri, May 27 2011
Clinton calls on Pakistan to do more against militants
Fri, May 27 2011
Bomber kills 24 in Pakistan; U.S. military mission trimmed
Thu, May 26 2011
Analysis & Opinion
Tech wrap: Apple’s iCloud on the horizon
A military response to cyberattacks is preposterous
Related Topics
U.S. »
Technology »
Secretary of Defense Robert Gates makes a keynote speech at the 10th International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Asia Securities Summit in Singapore June 4, 2011.
Credit: Reuters/Jason Reed
By Raju Gopalakrishnan and David Alexander
SINGAPORE |
Sat Jun 4, 2011 3:23am EDT
SINGAPORE (Reuters) - The United States is seriously concerned about cyber-attacks and is prepared to use force against those it considers an act of war, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said at a security meeting in Asia on Saturday.
He also assured Asian allies that the United States would protect sea lanes and maintain a robust military presence in the region despite a severe budget crunch and the protracted wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"We take the cyber threat very seriously and we see it from a variety of sources, not just one or another country," Gates said, an apparent reference to reports that several of the attacks may have originated in China.
"What would constitute an act of war by cyber that would require some kind of response, either in kind or kinetically?" he said.
"We could avoid some serious international tensions in the future if we could establish some rules of the road as early as possible to let people know what kinds of acts are acceptable, what kinds of acts are not and what kinds of acts may in fact be acts of war."
Earlier this week, Google said it had disrupted a campaign aimed at stealing passwords of hundreds of Google email account holders, including senior U.S. government officials, Chinese activists and journalists.
It was the latest in a series of cyber attacks that have also targeted defense contractor Lockheed Martin and Sony Corp. Google said the latest breach appeared to originate in China but neither the company nor the U.S. government has said the Chinese government was responsible.
But the U.S. State Department has asked Beijing to investigate.
Gates said it was difficult to identify where the perpetrators of such attacks were based and added that military ties with China were improving.
But he also said the U.S. was preparing weapons systems and capabilities that would allow U.S. forces "to deploy, move and strike over great distances in defense of our allies and vital interests." Although he gave few other details, the plans could worry China, U.S. officials privately said. Asked whether China wouldn't see the remarks as a concern, a senior U.S. defense official said it was an example of the need for greater military transparency between the two sides. "Without transparency, we obviously have to do certain things and make certain preparations because it's not quite clear what everybody's intentions are," the official said. "So the more ... clear it is about what China's military investment is aimed at, the more clear it us for us what's going on in the region and what intentions are."
ASSURANCES DESPITE STRAINS
Gates said the United States was committed to its Asian allies although a decade of combat in Iraq and Afghanistan had strained U.S. ground forces and exhausted public patience, while the recession had left Washington with huge budget deficits and looking to cut military spending. "Irrespective of the tough times the U.S. faces today, or the tough budget choices we confront in the coming years, ... America's interests as a Pacific nation -- as a country that conducts much of its trade in the region -- will endure," he said.
"The United States and Asia will only become more inextricably linked over the course of this century. These realities ... argue strongly for sustaining our commitments to allies while maintaining a robust military engagement and deterrent posture across the Pacific Rim," he said.
Gates' remarks come at a time of great change within the U.S. military community. He himself is due to step down at the end of June and hand over to Secretary-designate Leon Panetta, the current CIA director. The top uniformed U.S. military officer, Admiral Mike Mullen, will retire October 1, and Obama has named Army General Martin Dempsey to replace him. "There is a fair degree of anxiety in the region right now -- given the budgetary pressures they perceive that the United States faces -- about what our future role is going to be in the Asia-Pacific region," a senior U.S. defense official said.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said few things would be as destabilizing for the region than the perception of a retreat on the part of the United States. "We are clearly signaling our commitment to continue to play a significant role in the Asia-Pacific region and on continuing to make sure that we have the capabilities ... to help underwrite peace and stability," the official said.
(Editing by Jonathan Thatcher)
U.S.
Technology
Tweet this
Link this
Share this
Digg this
Email
Reprints
We welcome comments that advance the story directly or with relevant tangential information. We try to block comments that use offensive language, all capital letters or appear to be spam, and we review comments frequently to ensure they meet our standards. If you see a comment that you believe is irrelevant or inappropriate, you can flag it to our editors by using the report abuse links. Views expressed in the comments do not represent those of Reuters.
Comments (0)
Be the first to comment on reuters.com.
Add yours using the box above.
Social Stream (What's this?)
© Copyright 2011 Thomson Reuters
Editorial Editions:
Africa
Arabic
Argentina
Brazil
Canada
China
France
Germany
India
Italy
Japan
Latin America
Mexico
Russia
Spain
United Kingdom
United States
Reuters
Contact Us
Advertise With Us
Help
Journalism Handbook
Archive
Site Index
Video Index
Reader Feedback
Mobile
Newsletters
RSS
Podcasts
Widgets
Your View
Analyst Research
Thomson Reuters
Copyright
Disclaimer
Privacy
Professional Products
Professional Products Support
Financial Products
About Thomson Reuters
Careers
Online Products
Acquisitions Monthly
Buyouts
Venture Capital Journal
International Financing Review
Project Finance International
PEhub.com
PE Week
FindLaw
Super Lawyers Attorney Rating Service
Reuters on Facebook
Thomson Reuters is the world's largest international multimedia news agency, providing investing news, world news, business news, technology news, headline news, small business news, news alerts, personal finance, stock market, and mutual funds information available on Reuters.com, video, mobile, and interactive television platforms. Thomson Reuters journalists are subject to an Editorial Handbook which requires fair presentation and disclosure of relevant interests.
NYSE and AMEX quotes delayed by at least 20 minutes. Nasdaq delayed by at least 15 minutes. For a complete list of exchanges and delays, please click here.
Other News on Saturday, 4 June 2011 Toshiba launches new Thrive android tablet priced to compete
Happy Birthday Rafa! Nadal reaches French final vs. Federer
Qatar deports Libyan woman who said she was raped
|
Congressional leader blasts TSA for high costs of federal airport screeners
Alex Noren leads Wales Open, Graeme McDowell lurking one shot back
Protests simmer as Bahrain wins back Formula One
|
Donnie Walsh steps down as Knicks president, GM
Peru's Humala edges ahead in polls; markets nervous
|
Adele forced to cancel North American tour due to illness
"Gunsmoke" star James Arness dies at 88
Euro zone sees service sector growth slow
Caltrain board approves budget with no closures and service cuts
Zimbabwe's Mugabe suggests 2012 elections
|
Knicks getting Jimmer with it; New York interested in ex-BYU star
Analysis: Can naming, shaming curb cyber attacks from China?
|
U.S. raises Google hack allegation with China
|
Competition and humor drive Groupon's Andrew Mason
|
Request to revisit Rambus rulings likely: lawyer
|
Playboy club returns to London, some hopping mad
|
Rihanna says Man Down video empowers women
|
Yemen's Saleh injured in shelling, seven killed
|
NATO uses helicopters to strike Libya targets
|
Mladic wary then defiant in dramatic Hague debut
|
Indian anti-graft yoga guru begins fast to death
|
Rangers pound out 19 hits in rout over Indians
Ohio State officials say they will work on compliance issues
More than 60 killed in Syria protests: rights group
|
Vancouver businessman expected to buy NHL's Dallas Stars
Jiyai Shin leads by one shot at LPGA ShopRite Classic
Heat's Big Three came up small in game 2 collapse vs. Mavs
Timberwolves coach Rambis still unsure of return
Peru's Humala edges ahead in polls; markets nervous
|
Steve Stricker aces way to three-shot lead at Memorial Tournament
Brooks hits Mark with 65, leads at Principal Charity Classic
Bear hunting license lottery redux necessary in Minnesota
India:hard to show restraint against more Pakistan-backed attack
|
Long-suffering Pirates hold top pick heading into 2011 MLB Draft
U.S. says worried by cyber-attacks; committed to Asia
|
Sony Pictures confirms hacking of its websites
|
Apple secures licensing deals ahead of iCloud unveiling
|
Heart transplant teen befriended by Brandy dies at 17
|
Actor John Malkovich robbed in Prague
|
Key al Qaeda man killed in Pakistan by U.S. drone
|
Japan PM Kan to step down by August: report
|
Three dead in clashes over jobs in Tunisian town
|
Four NATO troops killed by bomb in eastern Afghanistan
|
Egypt court sentences former finance minister to 30 years jail
|
Portugal vote winner to face daunting job under bailout
|
Northern Sudan dismisses U.N. call for troops to quit Abyei
|
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights