Move FM Global News

WASHINGTON DC – The U.S. Department of Justice has charged a government-owned Taiwanese company with economic espionage.

Three individuals have also been charged.

The Justice department alleges the company and individuals stole trade secrets from an Idaho-based semi-conductor company.

In addition to the criminal charges, Assistant Attorney General for National Security John Demers said that “for the first time ever, we also bring a civil action to stop the export of the illegal goods and prevent them from competing with the American product in America.”

The Justice Department simultaneously announced the creation of a new working group on China to combat the theft of intellectual property.

“We will support it in all regards,” FBI Deputy Director David Bowdich said Thursday. “We are bringing all of our investigative resources to bear against this threat to protect the United States and our interests.”

Bowdich said China poses a broad, complicated, and serious threat to U.S. interests and “every type of business is at risk” no matter its size, type, or location.

“They seek to gain any advantage on the global stage, through whatever data they can pilfer,” Bowdich said of the Chinese economic espionage threat.

Bowdich also emphasized the role of partnerships in the success of these efforts.

“We know we have to be in lockstep with our partners at every single level,” he said.