Italian authorities have arrested a Chinese man accused by US prosecutors of being part of a hacking team that stole coveted US research into a coronavirus vaccine on behalf of Chinese intelligence.

Xu Zewei, faces US charges for allegedly attempting to hack a Covid-19 vaccine project, but asserts his innocence, citing a stolen phone and common surname.

The U.S. Department of Justice said on Tuesday a Chinese state-sponsored contract hacker was arrested last week in Italy at the request of Washington, but the arrested man claimed he is a victim of mistaken identity.