Australia's shadow defence minister David Johnston has warned China against widespread cyber espionage, while urging the nation to adopt rules on acceptable cyber conduct for national interest.
Senator Johnston has criticized China's liberal attitude of ripping off intellectual property under cyber spying and called for immediate need to establish rules of engagement in cyber espionage, News.com.au reports.
Chinese People's Liberation Army Unit 61398 (PLA 3), which is responsible for telecommunications, has been blamed for widespread cyber espionage and hacking against western companies and governments, including Australia.
Johnston further added that the defence expenditure, as a percentage of gross domestic, under Labor government had reached the lowest level since before World War II.