Snowden Monday denied the allegation that he is a Chinese spy in an online chat with the Guardian newspaper from a secret location in Hong Kong.

Edward Snowden [People.com.cn]

When asked if he has or will provide classified US information to the Chinese or other governments in exchange for asylum, he simply said, "This is a predictable smear that I anticipated before going public, as the US media has a knee-jerk 'RED CHINA!' reaction to anything involving HK or the PRC, and is intended to distract from the issue of US government misconduct."

"If I were a Chinese spy, why wouldn't I have flown directly into Beijing?" retorted Snowden.

When asked to clarify whether he has secretly given classified information to the Chinese government, he firmly answered, "I have had no contact with the Chinese government."

"I only work with journalists," he added.

On June 16, former U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney hinted that Edward Snowden might be working with the Chinese government and was in fact acting a spy for China.

Spokeswoman for China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Hua Chunying yesterday dismissed this claim as being "completely ridiculous" at a regular press briefing.