Beijing has categorically denied involvement in cyber espionage and said allegations leveled against Chinese citizens are "ungrounded and serve an ulterior purpose".

The government and military are against and are not involved in cyber espionage and allegations that People's Liberation Army officers had engaged in it are "purely ungrounded and serve an ulterior purpose," Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said at a regular press conference on Friday.

Hong made the remarks in answer to questions regarding a Chinese resident of Canada named Su Bin who was, allegedly, part of a hacking conspiracy, along with two "co-conspirators", alleged to be Chinese soldiers, to steal secrets relating to components of the F-35 and other American warplanes.

The government will keep a close eye on Su's case, Hong said, and "we demand that the Canadian government ensure the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens'', he added.