A Chinese government official convicted of spying on and stealing trade secrets from Cincinnati-based GE Aviation, believed to be the first Chinese espionage suspect extradited to the U.S., was sentenced Wednesday to 20 years in prison.
“Today’s sentence demonstrates the seriousness of those crimes and the Justice Department’s determination to investigate and prosecute efforts by the Chinese government, or any foreign power, to threaten our economic and national security,” U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said.
Xu Yanjun worked for the Chinese Ministry of State Security (MSS). He targeted both U.S. and foreign aviation companies in order to acquire trade secrets and technical specifications beginning at least by December 2013, according to the U.