Asset or liability? Beijing's decision on whistle-blower could seal Snowden's fate
Leak information to be assessed, experts say, with an eye on US relations
Beijing will look into the Edward Snowden case to determine whether he is an asset or liability to China's national security, mainland observers say.
But it will be handled in a low-profile manner to avoid upsetting the Sino-US relationship and being seen as meddling in Hong Kong affairs.
Snowden's revelation, that the US government had been hacking into Hong Kong and mainland networks for years, had put Beijing in an awkward position, observers said. On the one hand, it hoped to extract intelligence from Snowden, but making high-profile comments was deemed inappropriate because Washington had not made any formal request to Hong Kong for Snowden's extradition.
China state television CCTV reported on the Snowden case for the first time last night, saying the whistle-blower "risked his own life to expose the US hypocrisy".
China Daily noted the irony that the US' surveillance programme was exposed just as it began ramping up pressure on Beijing, saying the exposure "is certain to stain Washington's overseas image and test developing Sino-US ties".
Foreign Ministry spokesman Hua Chunying reiterated yesterday that China was one of the biggest victims of hacking attacks, but gave no details about Snowden.