Feds bust plot to smuggle US military tech to China

Two suspected Taiwanese drug smugglers have been accused of an ambitious plot to smuggle some pretty serious military technology including a US drone out of the States and into China. Hui Sheng Shen and Huan Ling Chang, who have been in custody since February for allegedly smuggling methamphetamine into the US, will be …

[Anonymous Coward]

There will be no embarrassment

The chinese government will deny any involvement and continue regardless.

There was an excellent "60 minutes" a few years back which was looking at how they do it. Where US, USSR, etc worked with quality (having a few spies where they thought it mattered) the Chinese work with quantity. They twist the arms of people who try to visit relatives, do business or do "business" (like in this case) in great numbers. All of these are disposable, they can pretend they have nothing to do with them and the sheer numbers swamp the ability of FBI, MI5, etc to process the information.

As a result for every muppet that fails (like these) a muppet gets through while the PLA can deny the relationship with impunity.

[Anonymous Coward]

Why do it the hard way?

If the smugglers just slapped "CISCO" labels on the drones and declared them to U.S. customs, they'd have no problems getting them out!

[Miek]

Re: Why do it the hard way?

Or label them "Farming Tools"?

[TakeTheSkyRoad]

I don't believe a word of it

The timing is too much of a coincidence plus they got caught and done for minor drug smuggling and black market boots ???

Any seriously effort by "Chinese CIA" would have enough financial backing that the agents involved wouldn't have to resort to boot smuggling. The caught on tape bit lends some credibility though not alot.

To take this a step into speculation land hasn't China wanted to "reclaim" Taiwan for a while ? Wouldn't two Taiwanese nationals be quite happy to get involved in a story painting China in a bad light in exchange for a deal on the drug and smuggling charges ??

I do suspect that China is after high tech by less than legal means (as every developing nation has at some point) just not through this pair

[Shocked Jock]

Taiwan connection

There are more serious implications here. If the PRC has agents from Taiwan (as this shows) and the current "Republic of China" government, the Kuo Min Tang, is practically gasping to be taken over by that country (as it is, backed by big business), then US and democratic influence in South-East Asia is severely under threat. Taiwanese technology will doubtless also become the tool of the PLA, and the Taiwanese population can expect to be swamped by picked anti-democratic incomers, as in Hong Kong. The lights in South-East Asia are going out.

[Anonymous Coward]

Hang em by their thumbs

...for a few months until they tell all.

[Eduard Coli]

No secret

What secret?

The PRC has said to the media before that they would like America to sell its war tech.