The recent arrests of Chinese nationals for alleged economic espionage are raising eyebrows across American industries, who are rightfully asking how they can protect themselves from becoming the next foreign target. U.S. universities have been key figures in these headlines. The risk of economic espionage is a serious one for higher education because universities are
economic espionage
Chair of Temple University’s Physics Dept. Indicted for Providing U.S. High Tech to China
The chair of Temple University’s physics department has been indicted for allegedly providing U.S. technology to China. Dr. Xioaxing Xi, a U.S. citizen and native of China, is an expert in the field of magnesium diboride thin film superconducting technology. According to the indictment, Xi was involved in a scheme over many years to funnel thin film superconducting technology to third parties in China.
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Six PRC Citizens Charged With Economic Espionage
On May 16, Hao Zhang, a Chinese university professor, was arrested upon entering the U.S. as one of six defendants charged with participating in a conspiracy to steal trade secrets and commit economic espionage against the United States. Their alleged goal was to set up a factory in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) that would develop and manufacture a series of high technology products that would have both civilian and military applications.
The 32-count indictment alleges that, with the financial support of the PRC and the PRC’s Tianjin University, in eastern China, the six conspirators established a shell corporation in the Cayman Islands, Novana, and a plant that could produce products from the information stolen from the U.S. entities. The conspirators had filed for patents in both the U.S. and PRC.Continue Reading Six PRC Citizens Charged With Economic Espionage