BEIJING—A Chinese state-run university named in a U.S.
indictment as being linked to suspected economic espionage has
denied being involved in inappropriate activity, calling the
allegations an attempt by American authorities to politicize a
technical dispute.
Tianjin University's comments, reported Thursday by the
state-owned China Youth Daily, follow this week's indictment by
U.S. prosecutors alleging that six Chinese
citizens—including three professors at the
university—conspired to develop stolen wireless
technology to benefit their commercial venture with the school.
In response to the claims that Tianjin University was involved
in "activity that yielded inappropriate benefits, the university
administration expressed resentment and issued a strong denial,"
China Youth Daily said in an article on its website, citing the
university, without further identifying sources.
In the report, the unnamed university officials were quoted as
describing the matter as a "technical dispute," saying that "the
politicization of the professors' scientific research, elevating it
to the level of 'economic espionage,' would harm normal academic
exchanges."
The research by the three professors and their team, the report
said, is "public and conforms with international standards in
scientific research and ethical norms in academia." The school
reserved the right to use legal means to protect its reputation,
the report added.
A Tianjin University spokesman, who gave his name only as Wang,
confirmed the content of the China Youth Daily report. He didn't
elaborate.
Experts said the case signals Washington's stiffer stance over
the pilfering of commercial secrets— an issue that
already has frayed ties with Beijing. The case also marks the
latest instance of the U.S. accusing Chinese nationals of stealing
corporate secrets.
Among the six defendants, three are professors at Tianjin
University's Precision Instrument Engineering Department. Two of
the professors had studied at the University of Southern
California, where they received graduate degrees in electrical
engineering, before going on to work for U.S. technology companies
Avago Technologies and Skyworks Solutions Inc.
They are accused of stealing trade secrets from Avago and
Skyworks and then, with their co-conspirators, developing the
technology to benefit ROFS Microsystem, a joint venture they
founded with the university, according to the Justice Department
indictment. The film bulk-wave-resonator technology is used in
wireless devices to filter out unwanted signals. ROFS made use of
the technology to win contracts from commercial and military
clients, according to the indictment.
ROFS—founded in 2011 in the northeastern city of
Tianjin—designs, develops, manufactures and sells chips
and components for micro-electromechanical systems, or MEMS, its
corporate records and website showed. Its website wasn't accessible
Thursday, but a cached version said that the company is helmed by a
"core team with doctorate degrees from the U.S. and more than 10
years of work experience at renown semiconductor companies
abroad."
ROFS had applied for four patents with China's State
Intellectual Property Office, a search of the agency's patent
database showed. One of the patents was related to film
bulk-wave-resonator technology, though it wasn't clear whether it
contained any of the technology covered by the indictment. Avago
and Skyworks supply components based on the technology to Apple
Inc. for its iPhone, among other devices.
Phone calls to ROFS on Thursday were answered by a receptionist,
who declined to comment on the case, or transfer the call to other
company officials.
One of the Tianjin University professors, Zhang Hao, was
arrested by U.S. authorities on May 16 after arriving in Los
Angeles from China. Mr. Zhang was described as chief scientist at
ROFS in a brief biography on the agenda of an industry conference
he attended. The other five defendants were believed to be in
China.
Attempts to reach the six men for comment were unsuccessful.
Tianjin University said it would closely monitor developments in
the case, and would provide humanitarian and legal assistance to
Mr. Zhang and his family in the U.S., according to China Youth
Daily.
Olivia Geng contributed to this article.
Write to Chun Han Wong at chunhan.wong@wsj.com
Access Investor Kit for Avago Technologies Ltd.
Visit
http://www.companyspotlight.com/partner?cp_code=P479&isin=SG9999006241
Access Investor Kit for Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
Visit
http://www.companyspotlight.com/partner?cp_code=P479&isin=US83088M1027
Subscribe to WSJ: http://online.wsj.com?mod=djnwires