United Technologies said last month its two subsidiaries, Pratt & Whitney Canada and Hamilton Sundstrand Corp, agreed to pay more than $75 million to the US government to settle criminal and administrative charges related to the violations.
But the Chinese defence ministry, in the first official response, denied having anything to do with the incident, insisting its helicopter programme relied purely on indigenous know-how.
"To say that China stole US technology in the process of developing helicopter gunships is seriously out of kilter with the facts," spokesman Yang Yujun said in a statement posted on the ministry's website.
"China's development of helicopter gunships has all along been done upholding the principles of standing on ones own and independent innovation, relying on our own strength for development and production," he added.
"China's helicopter gunships and its engines are all self-developed and produced and we own all the intellectual property rights."
US federal prosecutors said United Technologies knew that its export of modified software to China would allow Beijing to test and develop its new military helicopter, called the Z-10, using 10 engines that had been legally exported as commercial items.
Prosecutors said the company harmed national security while trying to gain access to China's lucrative civilian helicopter market. United Technologies said it accepted responsibility for the violations and deeply regretted that they had occurred.
The case comes amid growing US concerns about China's military expansion and escalating electronic espionage.
Federal authorities have brought five major cases since last February, involving everything from drone technology to radiation-hardened computers used in satellite communications.
Western experts say the Z-10, first delivered to China's People's Liberation Army in 2009, is developing into one of the world's most modern and capable combat helicopters.
COMMENTS (9)
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@Yasser: Please note that the United States developed THE BOMB during the Second World War, not after, so now please tell us what "Nuclear Technology" the Americans "Stole" from Germany AFTER the Second World War! As for German scientists, they would all have gone the US/England rather than to the Soviet Union! @ U Please got to Wikipedia and do a search for "Avro Arrow", which turn up a very detailed history of that advanced Canadian Warplane, along a much more accurate description of the reasons for cancellation!
Pakistan is a frontline State for America since establishment we have good terms with neibouring States like China, Afghanistan, India and Iran International Community has impost\ed dictated political socieconomical system where no one survive direct and indirect intereference in the affairs of States in South Asia region has caused massacre, violence publice experiencing hard and bad times due to life taking taxes by International Financing Institutes by their purposed retired employees as Political and Finance advisors in developing States so illiteracy, injustice, poverty and corruption is raising
@Yasser:
Totally Agree.
AvroArrow was Canadian jet built in late 50s. US talked then Conservative (generally always pro US party in Canada) government into stopping the program, Took scientists to US and out few test planes built, One plane went "missing" . That plane was considered well ahead of its rivals at the time. Soon later US came up with planes featuring remarkably similar technology.
Maybe China would care to explain why United Technology is willing to pay $75 million for something that is "fictitious" ?
@ Vikas. Buddy no one nailed United States when they stole Nuclear Technology (infact the scientists) from Germany after WW2. I must agree with Truth bites that "knowledge should be shared".
Nail these greedy companies for selling the state secrets.
In 5-10 years similar attack chopper will be developed indegenioulsy in Pakistan.
Afterall knowledge should be shared
Apple is going to sue them for patent infringement.