Chinese Tech Giant Huawei Denies Stealing Trade Secrets

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) - Chinese tech giant Huawei issued a statement overnight denying charges of stealing trade secrets, breaking confidentiality agreements and violating sanctions against Iran.

The company was indicted by a federal grand jury last week and its chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou is currently being held in Canada as prosecutors seek to have her extradited to the U.S.

The case comes just as the U.S. and China are beginning new trade talks this week.

The U.S. government is alleging Chinese tech company Huawei went so far as to steal a robot's arm in its bid to get its hands on T-Mobile's trade secrets.

The Justice Department unveiled a 10-count grand jury indictment in Seattle in a case that centers on a T-Mobile phone-testing robot named "Tappy." It's separate from a 13-count case that accuses Huawei of misleading banks about the company's business and violating U.S. sanctions.

Huawei is China's first global technology competitor and one of the world's biggest cellphone companies and makers of telecommunications parts. It has rejected accusations that it is controlled by China's ruling party and might facilitate spying.

But the T-Mobile case portrays a company going to illegal lengths to gain access to others' intellectual property.

(© Copyright 2019 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)