The U.S government charged six Chinese nationals with economic espionage, saying they stole secrets from two companies that develop technology often used in military systems, the Department of Justice said on Tuesday.
It was the third time in as many years that U.S. authorities have made accusations of economic espionage conducted on behalf of China, a sign that the United States is increasingly focused on what it has termed a top national security concern.
The charges against the six could exacerbate tensions between China and the United States, coming two days after U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry's China visit was overshadowed by concerns over Beijing's maritime ambitions in the South China Sea.