Chinese Espionage
[Guest post by DRJ]
It’s been all politics and law around here recently, and it’s time for something different. Today’s news has a reminder that Chinese espionage is alive and well in America:
“A U.S. citizen from Taiwan and longtime southeast Louisiana resident pleaded guilty today to conspiring to pass American military secrets to the Chinese government.
Tai Shen Kuo, 58, a businessman who made a name and a lot of money for himself over more than three decades in Houma and New Orleans, is being held up by the U.S. Justice Department as representative of a new spying threat from China.”
Kuo agreed to a plead guilty to “one count of conspiracy to deliver national defense information to a foreign government.” The maximum penalty is life in prison.
The original charges and parties are set forth in this February 2008 FBI press release. In brief, Kuo was one of 3 Chinese nationals charged with a civilian U.S. Defense Department analyst in connection with the release of classified information concerning weapons systems sold to Taiwan.
Prosecutors have repeatedly emphasized how aggressive the Chinese are in trying to penetrate American military and economic secrets. They described Chinese espionage programs as reaching levels that have not been seen in the U.S. since the Cold War with the former Soviet Union.
Thus, while Kuo’s network may be closed, there are many more still out there.
— DRJ
half an hour later, chinese spymaster hungry for more information!
assistant devil's advocate (8ee4c8) — 5/13/2008 @ 1:13 pmGood one, ada.
DRJ (5f6016) — 5/13/2008 @ 1:35 pmThis problem is so much bigger than the public at large is aware of, but one day in the not-to-distant-future it will break into the mainstream consciousness in a way that will be unforgettable.
IMO, Chinese nationalism will ultimately be a greater source of world instability that is Islamic fundamentalism.
WLS (68fd1f) — 5/13/2008 @ 1:47 pmWhile you probably meant stuff like corporate espionage, my immediate reaction to “economic secrets” was: “Allow real capitalism and real competitive markets. Don’t artificially inflate or deflate your currency. Minimize regulation.”
Not such a big secret…. even if our own government can’t discover that last bit either.
Dave (391b76) — 5/14/2008 @ 9:55 amTHE BEAR and the DRAGON conspire against the EAGLE and CROUCHING TIGER HIDDEN DRAGON
krazy kagu (b3db14) — 5/14/2008 @ 1:35 pmI’ve quoted you and linked to you here.
Consul-At-Arms (6f0c30) — 5/17/2008 @ 11:52 pmDon’t artificially inflate or deflate your currency.
As opposed to what other way to inflate or deflate a fiat currency? I do believe you are trying to say refrain from “excessive” adjustments beyond market forces. All currencies, even those settled in physical metals or seashells undergo adjustments on a constant basis. Because, well, because y’know things are always changing in the global markets. My porridge is just right, said Goldielocks. Except for the heinous use of price controls, any currency will buy what the market seller says it will, not what the issuer of the currency says it will.
allan (1b6aaf) — 5/18/2008 @ 7:36 am