China denies economic espionage charges from U.S., allies

FILE PHOTO: A Chinese flag flutters at Tiananmen Square in central Beijing, China June 8, 2018. REUTERS/Jason Lee

BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s Foreign Ministry said on Friday it is resolutely opposed to accusations from the United States and other allies criticizing China for economic espionage, urging Washington to withdraw its accusations.

The United States should also withdraw charges against two Chinese citizens, the ministry said, adding that China had never participated in or supported any stealing of commercial secrets.

Britain, Australia and New Zealand joined the United States in slamming China over what they called a global campaign of cyber-enabled commercial intellectual property theft, signaling growing global coordination against the practice.

Reporting by Ben Blanchard, Zhang Min and Philip Wen; Editing by Paul Tait

Our Standards:The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
source: reuters.com