China calls charges against spy convicted of attempting to steal US trade secrets ‘pure fabrication’

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China criticized the conviction of Chinese intelligence agent Yanjun Xu on Monday, days after he was found guilty of attempting to steal trade secrets from General Electric and other US airlines following a lengthy FBI investigation.

US federal officials said Yanjun Xu, a 41-year-old Chinese citizen, was a spy for the Chinese Ministry of State Security. He was the first Chinese intelligence officer to be extradited to the United States in court.

“The allegation is pure invention,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin, according to Reuters at a press conference.

CHINESE SPY condemned for attempting to steal US trade secrets

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin attends a press conference in Beijing, China on December 14, 2020. (REUTERS / Thomas Peter) (Reuters photos)

“We demand that the US handle the case lawfully and fairly in order to protect the rights and interests of Chinese citizens,” added the spokesman.

The FBI seal hangs in the Flag Room at the headquarters on March 9, 2007 in Washington, DC. (Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images / Getty Images)

Xu was found guilty of several criminal charges last week, including conspiracy and attempt to commit industrial espionage and attempt to steal trade secrets.

According to court documents, he used aliases as part of a yearlong attempt to steal proprietary information from leading air carriers in the US and abroad. Prosecutors said he was trying to recruit aviation experts to travel to China on the pretext that they were invited to give presentations at local universities.

Chinese and US flags flutter near the Bund before the US trade delegation meets its Chinese counterparts for talks in Shanghai, China, on July 30, 2019. (REUTERS / Aly Song / File Photo) (Reuters photos)

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At one point, Yanjun Xu tried to convince an employee of General Electric Aviation to provide information about the composite fan of the aircraft engine.

Xu was arrested in Belgium in 2018 and extradited to the United States. After his conviction, he faces decades of imprisonment and fines of more than $ 5 million.

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