India, Sept. 17 -- US intelligence officers have reportedly warned that China could try to steal F-35 fighter jet technology as the United States plans a $24-billion deal with Saudi Arabia.

According to a New York Times report, US intelligence officers have raised concerns over China's espionage bid in internal reports. Ahead of the pending sale of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, intelligence analysts have warned of a possibility that China could attempt to obtain the technology by spying in Saudi Arabia or use its military and security partnership with the kingdom to acquire it.

The concerns over threat of Chinese espionage are not new. Last year in November, a report by the Pentagon's Defense Intelligence Agency highlighted the exc...