The U.S. Department of Justice charged the suspects with economic espionage and theft of trade secrets in a 32-count indictment. Prosecutors allege this was part of a long-running scheme to provide an edge to universities and companies controlled by the People’s Republic of China.
The indictment « reveals a methodical and relentless effort by foreign interests to obtain and exploit sensitive and valuable U.S. technology through the use of individuals operating within the United States, » according to David Johnson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s San Francisco division.
Source
CNN
