NSA Whistleblower Edward Snowden Monday dismissed claims that he was a spy for China, saying that he could be "petting a phoenix in Beijing by now" if he were spying for the Chinese government.
"If I were a Chinese spy, why wouldn't I have flown directly into Beijing? I could be living in a palace petting a phoenix by now," said Snowden in a live chat with Guardian readers.
Earlier, the former U.S. Vice-president Dick Cheney and others had questioned his escape to Hong Kong, expressing their doubts about the NSA leaker's activities.
"This is a predictable smear that I anticipated before going public, as the US media has a kneejerk RED CHINA!' reaction to anything involving HK or the PRC, and is intended to distract from the issue of US government misconduct," said Snowden ""Ask yourself: if I were a Chinese spy, why wouldn't I have flown directly into Beijing?."
When asked to state clearly if he had passed any classified information to the Beijing government, the NSA leaker said: "No. I have had no contact with the Chinese government ... I only work with journalists."
Edward Snowden is currently hiding in Hong Kong in fear of possible prosecution from the U.S. government and he was taking the questions "with the help of Glenn Greenwald" the reporter who broke the story, according to the Guardian.
Denying that Edward might be a Chinese spy, China's Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Hua Chunying on Monday said that the claims were completely groundless.
The spokeswoman also urged Washington to "pay attention to the international community's concerns and demands and give ... the necessary explanation" of its surveillance programs.
Her remarks came not long after the former U.S. vice president's questioned whether Snowden had any links with the Beijing government.
Speaking to Fox News last Sunday, Dick Cheney called the NSA whistleblower a traitor while questioning his decision to travel to Hong Kong.
"I'm suspicious because he went to China. That's not a place where you would ordinarily want to go if you are interested in freedom, liberty and so forth," said Cheney adding: "It raises questions whether or not he had that kind of connection before he did this."
Meanwhile, Edward's father, Lonnie Snowden, told Fox News that he hopes his son won't release any "secrets that could constitute treason."
"I would like to see Ed come home and face this. I shared that with the government when I spoke with them," said Lonnie Snowden, adding that he loves his son and believe he is "principled."
