America's Future Update on China

Update on Cheating by the Chinese

Every day's news brings more reports of imported Chinese foods and products that contain poisons. It started with the poison in pet food that killed hundreds of cats in the U.S. Every one of the 24 toys recalled for safety reasons by the U.S. was manufactured in China. Many toys had coatings of lead paint, and one item was found to be filled with kerosene.

The Food and Drug Administration banned the importation of five types of farm-raised fish from China, including shrimp and catfish, because testing found recurrent contamination from carcinogens and antibiotics. China raises most of its fish products in water contaminated with raw sewage and compensates by using dangerous drugs and chemicals.

Toothpaste from China was found to contain diethylene glycol, a sweet-tasting poison used in antifreeze. That same poison was mixed into cough medicine and killed 100 people in Panama. Bottles of counterfeit shampoo were found to contain a harmful bacteria linked to feces. 450,000 tires imported from China by U.S. distributors have been recalled because they suffer tread separation.

Update on China's Military Buildup

The Pentagon's annual assessment of Chinese military power contains ominous news. China has long said it is prepared to use force to take over Taiwan. But the Pentagon says that China's military buildup is moving to global operations from the Middle East through Southeast Asia. "China's military acquisitions and strategic thinking suggest Beijing is also generating capabilities for other regional contingencies, such as conflict over resources or territory." The Chinese buildup is showing "the beginnings of a power-projection capability that has ramifications well beyond a potential Taiwan crisis."

The Pentagon report, called "Military Power of the People's Republic of China 2007," said that last January's test of an anti-satellite missile "poses dangers to human space flight and puts at risk the assets of all space-faring nations." China appears to be working on an "information blockade" of space through missiles, lasers and electromagnetic anti-satellite missiles and jammers.

The Pentagon warned that China's rapid and broad military modernization is "impressive." The report said that China's military buildup is being carried on in secret and that its spending on weapons is as much as $141 billion a year. Washington Times, 5-26-07

Update on China's Espionage

A Chinese American engineer on trial for conspiring to send information about U.S. military technology to China was found guilty of all charges on May 10 in U.S. District Court in Santa Ana, CA. Chi Mak was convicted of conspiracy to violate export control laws, attempting to violate export control laws, acting as an agent of the People's Republic of China, and lying to the FBI. Mak faces a maximum of 35 years in prison. Mak was an electrical engineer at Anaheim-based Power Paragon Inc., a firm that works mostly on Navy contracts. The FBI watched him for about 18 months, using cameras, wiretaps and microphones hidden in his car and work cubicle. Mak's brother and sister-in-law and their son have also been charged in the case. Los Angeles Times, 5-10-07

ITT Corp. agreed to pay a $100 million penalty for illegally sending classified night-vision technology used in military operations to China and other countries. ITT, the leading manufacturer of night-vision equipment for U.S. armed forces, pled guilty in U.S. District Court to two felony charges: export of defense articles without a license and omission of statements of material facts in arms exports reports. Associated Press, 3-27-07