The heads of several foreign intelligence agencies came together to accuse China of stealing intellectual property and using artificial intelligence to hack and spy on other countries, writes Reuters.

This statement was made by the heads of the security services of the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, which are members of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance (FVEY).

China is believed to be stealing secrets in various sectors, from quantum technologies and robotics to biotechnology and artificial intelligence. According to US FBI Director Christopher Wray, the country uses a number of methods: cyber intrusions, artificial intelligence operations, and seemingly innocuous corporate investments and transactions.

“The Chinese government is engaged in the most sustained scaled and sophisticated theft of intellectual property and expertise in human history,” said Mike Burgess, the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation’s director-general.

Instead, the Chinese side claims that the country is committed to protecting intellectual property.

“We firmly oppose to the groundless allegations and smears towards China and hope the relevant parties can view China’s development objectively and fairly,” said Liu Pengyu, spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in Washington.

As you know, the United States has long accused China of stealing intellectual property, and this issue is one of the sore points in US-China relations. However, this is the first time that members of the intelligence alliance have publicly made accusations against China.