Chinese Origin Scientist Working For Coca Cola Steals Secrets Worth $119 Million To Win Reward In China

A Chinese-born scientist who previously worked for Coca Cola has been arrested in the US on charges of stealing trade secrets from companies engaged in research with Coca-Cola, reports Wall Street Journal (WSJ).

The ex- Coca Cola employee undertook this subversive operation with the intent to launch a competing venture in China against Coca Cola and subsequently win a reward from a Chinese government-backed program.

In its indictment order against the Chinese scientist, You Xiaorong, the federal jury in Tennessee noted that the technologies that Ms You sought to steal cost at least $119.6 million to develop.

“(The case against You) exemplifies the rob, replicate and replace approach to technological development,” said John Demers of Justice Department’s national security division to WSJ.

Federal prosecutors are also looking into the use of Chinese schemes like “Thousand Talents Plan” which “solicit and reward the theft of our nation’s (US’s) trade secrets and intellectual property.” You expected rewards under the Thousand Talents Plan.

Charges Against Huawei

On 28 January (2019) the Donald Trump administration unveiled a sweeping set of criminal charges against China’s telecom behemoth Huawei Technologies accusing the company of stealing trade secrets from its rival and violating sanctions issued by United States (US) against doing business with Iran.

Countries like the US, Japan, Australia and New Zealand, have already banned Huawei’s network infrastructure products and many other European nations have upped the scrutiny of its equipment.

Also Read: Chinese President Xi The Biggest Danger To Open Societies, Could Create Totalitarian State Using AI: George Soros