China's gonverment has replied to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton comments on China's internet policy, accusing China of restricting internet freedom.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton last week urged China and other authoritarian governments to pull down Internet censorship, drawing a sharp rebuke from Beijing.

"The US attacks China's internet policy, indicating that China has been restricting internet freedom. We resolutely oppose such remarks and practices that contravene facts and undermine China-US relations," said Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Ma Zhaoxu's.

"China's internet is open. China is a country with the most vibrant internet development. By the end of last year, China had 384 million internet users, 3.68 million websites and 180 million blogs. China's Constitution guarantees people's freedom of speech. It is China's consistent policy to promote the development of internet. China has its own national conditions and cultural traditions. It supervises internet according to law, which is in parallel with the international paractice," Zhaoxu added.

Hacking in whatever form and offence of others' privacy is prohibited by law in China.

"China believes that the international community should intensify the cooperaion in jointly combating internet hacking so as to safeguard internet security and protect the privacy of citizens in accordance with law," the Chinese spokeperson added.

"We urge the US to respect facts and stop attacking China under the excuse of the so-called freedom of internet. We hope that the US side can work with China to earnestly implement the consensus between leaders of both countries on developing bilateral relationship in the new era by strengthening dialogue, exchanges and cooperation, respecting each other's core interest and major concerns and properly handling differences and sensitive issues so as to ensure the healthy and stable development of China-US relationship."

China has stepped up its defense of curbs on the Internet nearly two weeks after Google said it wanted to stop censoring its Chinese Google.cn website and was alarmed by online hacking attacks from within China.

U.S. has taken a note of the Chinese statement written by the foreign minister. U.S. has had conversations at ambassadorial level in Washington regarding the issue of Google.

"U.S. has a wide-ranging and deep relationship with China," the U.S. Department of State said. "Any turmoil in the Middle East is going to have ramifications and broad ripple effects. U.S. has serious concerns about what happened and on the allegations of targeting of human rights activists" the U.S. Department of State added.

"This is an issue under discussion that will remain under discussion."