China seeks explanation from United States over reports on US embassies
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MOSCOW - Beijing is surprised about WikiLeaks link information on US embassies purchasing spying tools and wants Washington to explain the matter, according to Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying.
"I am sure that many of those who got acquainted with the information had the same question as I had to ask: why do American embassies buy so much secret surveillance equipment? For what purposes did they prepare it?" she told a news briefing on Monday.
Hua said that the disclosed data indicated that the US is "globally engaged in covert surveillance which specifically pertains to its allies".
"I think Washington should give a clear-cut explanation to the international community on this issue", she pointed out.
Her statement comes a few days after WikiLeaks published the "US Embassy Shopping List" database link, where it revealed more than 16,000 procurement requests by US embassies around the world.
For example, in an August 2018 procurement request for “Tactical Spy Equipment”, the US embassy in El Salvador asked vendors to provide 94 spy cameras, most disguised as everyday objects such as ties, caps, shirt buttons, watches, USB drives, lighters, and pens", the release said.
