China hits back over Renault spy case 'smears'

China hit out Tuesday at what it called "vicious smearing" over now-discredited accusations that Chinese parties profited from industrial espionage at French carmaker Renault.

Reuters//Yuriko Nakao

Last week, Renault was forced to apologise to three managers who had been accused of selling company secrets last year, and a fraud inquiry has been opened.

When the accusations surfaced, the French government talked about "economic warfare", and French media reports pointed the finger at China, sparking angry denials from Beijing.

"As to the Renault issue, shouldn't we reduce the vicious smearing and unfriendly attitude?" commerce ministry spokesperson Yao Jian told reporters when asked to comment on the case Tuesday.

He also suggested unspecified parties should "face up to China's technology advancement, particularly in terms of patents", saying that China made the fourth most patent registrations to the World Intellectual Property Organisation after the United States, Japan and Germany.