White House announces crackdown on China IP theft

World Today

White House announces crackdown on China IP theft(AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

The Trump Administration has vowed a crackdown on China.

It accused Beijing of stealing United States intellectual property, and other criminal economic activity.

China denies the allegations.

The issue is getting attention in the United States as President Donald Trump tries to motivate his base ahead of Tuesday’s Midterm elections.

CGTN’s Sean Callebs reports.

The chief law enforcement officer in the U.S., Attorney General Jeff Sessions, was blunt.

“Chinese economic espionage against the United States has been increasing, and it has been increasingly rapidly. We are here today to say enough is enough. We’re not going to take it anymore,” Jeff Sessions, U.S. Attorney General said.

Sessions announced an indictment, accusing three Chinese nationals, and a Chinese company, with stealing trade secrets from Micron. A U.S. company based in the state of Idaho that makes memory chips for computers, mobile phones and cars.

“It’s time for China to join the community of lawful nations. International trade has been good for China but cheating must stop and we must have more law enforcement cooperation with them,” said Jeff Sessions the U.S. Attorney General.

U.S. President Donald Trump has been rallying his loyal supporters, in part, by bashing China, and vowing to punish the nation for its trade policies. Trump has already imposed tariffs on some 250 billion dollars’ worth of goods made in China.

At the same time, Trump says he has a “good relationship” with Chinese President Xi Jinping, and boasted about a phone call the two shared Thursday.

Thursday, China again vowed to continue to attract international investment to bolster the global economy and safeguard legitimate interests of foreign-based companies. Through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, China has repeatedly denied wrongdoing.

“It’s not the first time for the United States to try to sow discord among China and other developing countries in our unity and cooperation and it was immediately rejected by them, in my reply to queries in the past, I once commented people can tell where justice lies,” said Lu Kang spokesman for the Chinese ministry of foreign affairs.


Einar Tangen on the US initiative against intellectual property theft by China

CGTN’s Rachelle Akuffo spoke with Einar Tangen about the U.S. initiative against intellectual property theft by China.


Elizabeth Larus on US espionage dispute with China

The Trump administration’s trade secrets fight with China have complicate diplomatic ties already strained by the ongoing trade dispute. Elizabeth Larus is a Professor of Political Science and International Affairs at the University of Mary Washington. She discussed the timing of the charges levied by the U.S. Justice Department with CGTN’s Elaine Reyes.