(CNN Business) The Justice Department charged two Chinese nationals Thursday in a global hacking scheme to steal business secrets as part of a campaign allegedly directed by the Chinese government. The charges come at a time of rising trade tensions between the US and China, the world's two largest economies. "The Chinese misappropriate our property, steal our intellectual property. The Chinese government has in the past strongly denied similar allegations involving the state security ministry, calling them "pure fabrication." Rosenstein and other top law enforcement officials said that even if the Chinese hackers never appear in a US courtroom, the charges are significant in that they hold Beijing accountable.

Source: CNN December 20, 2018 16:00 UTC