Four workers at Chinese defence firm accused of spying, posing threat to national security

Four workers at a military equipment manufacturer in southwestern China have been accused of spying, selling state secrets and posing a threat to national security, state media reported.

The four acted independently of each other at an unnamed defence company in Sichuan province, state television reported.

The four had allegedly been involved in spying from 2013 to last year, according to the report. 

It did not say which country or countries the staff were alleged to be working for.

One production labourer was contacted by a man claiming to be foreign journalist on the internet who paid him 3,200 yuan (HK$3,900) a month to provide production details of the military equipment made at the firm.

Another suspect was a member of the technical staff who was unhappy with his pay and looked for another job online, the report said.