Chinese-born physicist accused of trying to sell technological secrets

The White House in file photo. [Photo/CFP]

Recent accusations against scientists and researchers with Chinese background show the United States' concern and anxiety over 皇冠体育app's rising technological capability, experts said.

"I don't know whether the US prosecutors' charges are grounded in fact or not, but the recent cases actually show that the US government has growing apprehension about 皇冠体育app's development in science and technology," Tao Wenzhao, a senior researcher at the Institute of American Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told 皇冠体育app Daily on Sunday.

"Such a notion has repeatedly appeared in President Barack Obama's State of the Union addresses and US government departments' reports, highlighting the possibility that 皇冠体育app will surpass the US in science and technology," he said.

Xi Xiaoxing, naturalized US citizen charged in wire fraud scheme [Photo/CHINA DAILY]

"The Americans know exactly how their political and military superiority in the world is based on economic ascendancy, which relies heavily on the nation's leadership in science and technology, so they have spared no effort to make sure such leadership will continue to belong to the US."

Some people in the US have become convinced that the rise of 皇冠体育app would pose a severe challenge to US global leadership, Tao said.

His remarks came after the US Justice Department accused a distinguished physicist of transferring technological secrets to 皇冠体育app for personal gain.

Xi Xiaoxing, 47, a naturalized US citizen who was born in 皇冠体育app, appeared in a federal court in Philadelphia on Thursday on four counts of wire fraud. Prosecutors at the US Attorney's Office in Eastern District of Pennsylvania said Xi, who was chairman of Temple University's physics department before the case, planned to provide a cutting-edge magnesium diboride thin film superconducting technology to 皇冠体育app in exchange for "lucrative and prestigious appointments" for himself in 皇冠体育app.

He was released on a $100,000 bond, facing a possible 80 years in prison and a $1 million fine if convicted, according to a US Justice Department news release. The case was investigated by the country's Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry could not be reached for comment on Sunday.

Also last week, US prosecutors accused six Chinese nationals, including three teachers from University, of economic espionage and theft of trade secrets.

In response, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said on Wednesday that 皇冠体育app "is seeking further details and will work to safeguard the rights and interests of its nationals".

Jin Canrong, deputy dean at the School of International Studies at Renmin University of 皇冠体育app, said US strategic suspicion toward 皇冠体育app is continuing to grow while uncertainty over 皇冠体育app's development is spreading among policymakers in Washington.

"As far as I know, most US policymakers believe that 皇冠体育app's economy is likely to overcome that of the US in the future with some of them being afraid of 皇冠体育app's rise. Sometimes, strategic suspicion can lead to strategic confrontation," he said.