Physicist Shu Quan-Sheng has pleaded guilty to charges of passing American space secrets to China.

Shu was arrested in September by the FBI and it was alleged he was “providing technical expertise and foreign technology acquisition” to the Chinese space programme (see FBI swoop on ‘China space spy guy’).

A statement released yesterday by the Department of Justice says Shu pleaded guilty to “a three-count criminal information”.

Count one related to exporting a defence service to China, “Specifically, the information alleges that Shu provided the PRC with assistance in the design and development of a cryogenic fueling system for space launch vehicles to be used at the heavy payload launch facility located in the southern island province of Hainan, PRC,” says the statement.

Count two relates to passing data on cryogenic pumps and instruments and count three relates to bribing Chinese government officials to secure a contract for hydrogen tank systems.

AP says Shu and his wife refused to comment when leaving the courtroom (he is free on bail). “As part of the plea agreement, prosecutors agreed not to prosecute his wife for the role she allegedly played in the scheme,” says the wire service.

Reuters notes:

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang dismissed the case.

“The so-called (allegation) of China stealing space technology from the United States is sheer nonsense,” Qin told a regular news briefing.

“It has ulterior motives, which will not be successful,” he added, without elaborating.