Vocational school denies involvement in Google cyber attacks after U.S. media report

JINAN, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese vocational school blamed for staging cyber attacks on Google and other firms said Saturday the allegations are unfounded.

"Investigation in the staff found no trace the attacks originated from our school," Li Zixiang, Party chief at Lanxiang Vocational School in Shandong Province, told Xinhua.

Students of Lanxiang are still in their winter vacation, Li said.

He said Lanxiang has no relationship and does not cooperate with the military, adding that school authorities do not have military backing.

He also dismissed the suggestion of involvement of a "specific computer science class" taught by a Ukrainian professor.

"There is no Ukrainian teacher in the school and we have never employed any foreign staff," Li confirmed.

"The report was unfounded. Please show the evidence," he said.

Li's remarks came after the New York Times reported Thursday cyber attacks on Google and other American firms have been traced to Shanghai Jiaotong University and Lanxiang Vocational School, which the report alleged has ties to the Chinese military.

The report, citing unidentified investigators, said there is evidence suggesting a link between the attacks and a computer science class at Lanxiang taught by a Ukrainian professor.

Lanxiang, founded in 1984, has about 20,000 students learning vocational skills such as cooking, auto repair and hairdressing.

The computer science class offers basic courses about Photoshop, 3D drawing and Word -- not software engineering.

"It was not until 2006 that our graduates began to join the army. So far, 38 students have been recruited by the military for their talent in auto repair, cooking and electric welding," said Zhou Hui, director of the school's general office, who stressed it is natural for someone to join the army at a proper age.

No comment was available from Shanghai's Jiaotong University.

Google said on Jan. 12 it might pull out of the Chinese market, citing disagreement with government policies and unidentified attacks targeting Google's services in China.