15 - Attempted Theft of GE Turbine Technology

Xiaoqing Zheng[1] worked at General Electric (GE) for 10 years from 2008 to 2018 serving as an engineer specializing in sealing technology. During his tenure at GE, Mr. Zheng had conspired with Zahoxi Zhang, a business partner from the PRC, to steal GE’s turbine technology and reproduce said technology in China for profit.

According to the investigation, Zheng stole proprietary files including design models, material specifications, and configuration files that he emailed to Zhang back in the PRC. Supposedly, both Zheng and Zhang were able to leverage the stolen files within Liaoning Tianyu Aviation Technology Co., Ltd. (LTAT) and Nanjing Tianyi Avi Tech Co. Ltd. (NTAT), two Chinese companies that produce components for the turbines in question. Additionally, the investigation purports that the thefts were also intended to be utilized by researchers at PRC national labs and universities. Namely, Shenyang Aerospace University, Shenyang Aerospace research Institute, and Huaihai Institute of Technology had coordinated agreements with Zhang and Zheng.

After a three-year trial and investigation period, Zheng was convicted of conspiracy to commit economic espionage in April of 2022.[1] Though his sentencing date was originally slated for August of 2022, it has been moved to 5 October 2022.[2] Zheng faces up to five million dollars in fines and 15 years in prison.