DOJ Brings First-Ever Cyber-Espionage Case Against Chinese Officials

Photo Credit: APAttorney General Eric Holder on Monday announced a first-of-its-kind criminal cyber-espionage case against Chinese military officials the Justice Department charges hacked into major U.S. companies to steal trade secrets — though Holder could not say whether the five defendants stand a chance of ever seeing the inside of a U.S. courtroom.

Holder, in announcing the indictment against five Shanghai-based officials, acknowledged that the defendants have never set foot in the United States.

Pressed on whether there’s any hope the Chinese government would hand over the officials, Holder said only the “intention” is for the defendants to face the charges in a U.S. court, and he hopes to have Chinese government cooperation.

But the Chinese government immediately signaled it would not cooperate, claiming the accusations were made up and warning the case would damage U.S.-China relations.

According to Reuters, Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang urged “immediate rectification.”

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