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Two Chinese nationals suspected of spying on sensitive equipment in French Converteam plant

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World Navy Force News - France / China
 
 
 
Two Chinese nationals suspected of spying on sensitive equipment in French Converteam plant
 
French local daily L'Est Republicain reports that two Chinese nationals have been charged after being caught taking photographs of a "top secret" prototype engine at the Converteam plant of Champigneulles, France.

The two Chinese nationals were caught Sunday, September 25 by personnel of the Converteam plant, located in Champigneulles near Nancy (France), while they were taking photographs of prototypes of advanced electric propulsion motors, the source said.

These two men, who came from the Chinese subsidiary of the company and were on an internship were taken into custody on the 26 and questionned by Central Directorate of Internal Intelligence (French Intelligence Agency) the source said. Their cameras were confiscated
     
Propulsion motor for the Royal Navy’s Queen Elizabeth Class © Converteam Converteam, recently acquired by General Electric,
is a supplier of Marine Nationale, Royal Navy and US Navy.
(picture: Propulsion motor for the Royal Navy’s Queen Elizabeth Class © Converteam )

     

According to l'Est Republicain, the two men were indicted for "collecting information on fundamental interests of the nation and delivering the information to a foreign power between August 18 and September 25, 2011" and placed under judicial watch.

The newspaper said that "some fifty photos" were found "on their computers
, including that of a top secret prototype".