France not accusing any country over Renault spy case: Spokesman

• Source: Xinhua
• [08:40 January 13 2011]
• Comments

The French government spokesman said Tuesday that France was not accusing any country of involvement in the leak of business secrets from French automaker Renault.

"There is no official accusation ... against any country today," Francois Baroin told local radio Europe 1.

Renault spokesman Rafael Gomez said that an investigation was under way, but he refused to elaborate on the issue. "So far, Renault has no more information to give," he said.

The suspension came after Renault's chief operating officer Patrick Pelata pointed to intelligence attack by some foreign power in an interview with Le Monde newspaper.

Last week, Renault alleged the industrial espionage case of leaking of the company's secrets related to a high-profile electric vehicle program and suspended three senior executives suspected of putting company assets at risk.

Some French newspapers suggested Chinese companies were likely behind the industrial espionage case since Jan. 7, but the automaker declined to comment.

On Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei denied any involement in the case, saying reports connecting China to the Renault spy case was noticed, but was "totally baseless and irresponsible."