BEIJING (AP) — Allegations that China used stolen U.S. technology to develop a modern military attack helicopter were “severe deviations” from the facts, the Chinese Defense Ministry said Thursday.

A division of United Technologies Corp. pleaded guilty in Bridgeport, Connecticut, in June to crimes related to the illegal export of software that U.S. officials said was used by China to develop the helicopter. The United States has barred the export of defense articles to China since 1989.