The US does espionage more overtly where they offer you some value before they take your data. That's the gambit being played to avoid diplomatic issues. They

The US does espionage more overtly where they offer you some value before they take your data. That's the gambit being played to avoid diplomatic issues. They also lobby politicians to betray their own nations in favour of US (corporate) interests. Not to blame the victim here, but many times it's other countries fault for allowing themselves to be put in this predicament. When it comes to China or Russia, those have already strained relationships with the US and the rest of the Western world and do not mind dirty tactics. There is nothing really holding them back from engaging in covert cyber warfare. It's different types of threats that need to be dealt with differently.