China rebukes spy charges

• Source: Global Times
• [03:00 February 10 2010]
• Comments

The sentencing seems to shed light on the overly guarded mentality adopted by the US with respect to China in high-tech issues.

Chen Liangyao, an information-engineering scholar at Fudan University, cited his personal frustration at meetings with US academics and complained that the US sets too many limitations on technological exchanges with its Chinese counterparts.

"US authorities remain skeptical of our civilian-purpose research," Chen said.

Unlike many US companies, such as Boeing, that have both military and civilian operations, most Chinese companies and academic institutions have no connection with the military, Chen added.

A senior Chinese aerospace expert, who asked to remain anonymous, said academic exchanges with European counterparts are much smoother than those with the US.

"The US (side) seems to be very vigilant compared with the Europeans," he said.

Military strategist Dai Xu argued that, "Frequent accusations of spying and cyber attacking are means for the US to defame China."

China arrested iron-ore giant Rio Tinto's Shanghai office manager Stern Hu on charges of stealing state secrets last year.

Global Times – Agencies