America's Future Update on China

Update on U.S. Use of Dangerous Chinese Products

The use of Chinese-made drywall in new home construction has escalated into an international scandal. Thousands of homeowners bought new houses constructed with drywall imported from Communist China. State and federal investigations found that the drywall emits "volatile sulfur compounds" and contains traces of strontium sulfide, which can produce a rotten-egg odor, along with organic compounds never used in U.S.-made drywall. Homeowners complain that the fumes are corroding copper pipes, destroying TVs and air conditioners, blackening jewelry and silverware, and even making them ill. Even worse is the fact that insurers are denying claims and homeowners are being told their insurance is canceled or will not be renewed.

U.S. construction companies used the Chinese drywall because it was cheap. More than 500 million pounds of Chinese gypsum board were imported between 2004 and 2008, enough to have built tens of thousands of homes. Use of the Chinese product was heavily concentrated in the Southeast, especially in Florida and areas of Louisiana and Mississippi hit hard by Hurricane Katrina. Thousands of lawsuits are being filed, but neither the Chinese manufacturers nor the Chinese government accept responsibility. AP, 10-18-09.

Update on U.S. Selling China the Rope to Hang Us

On the eve of a visit to the U.S. by Communist China's No. 2 ranking military officer, Gen. Xu Caihou on Oct. 26, the Obama administration loosened export controls on technology to benefit Chinese missile development by what is called a "presidential determination." Obama altered a key provision of the 1999 Defense Authorization Act, which had required that the President notify Congress whether a proposed transfer of missile and space technology to China would harm the U.S. space-launch program or help China's missile program. Loral Space and Communications was allowed to provide 200 pages of data to China to correct the guidance system problems in their rockets, which had been blowing up 75% of the time.

The Clinton Administration had transferred licensing responsibility for technology exports to the Commerce Department from State and Defense, which had the result of eviscerating our formerly strict controls. In 1997, a Pentagon report concluded that Loral had "turned over expertise that significantly improved China's nuclear missiles" and that "United States national security has been harmed." Investors Business Daily, 10-18-09

Update on Why China Gives Aid to Africa

Communist China, which is cash-rich with its sales of cheap products in the U.S. market, is using foreign aid to promote its strategy for global domination. From Pakistan to Angola, China is using its tens of billions of dollars of foreign currency (especially U.S. dollars) to gain access to natural resources in Africa, to sign up business contracts for its government-owned companies, to cement diplomatic alliances, and to court the support of the developing world. China offers poor nations easy credit to buy all sorts of expensive improvements, without demanding Western-style demands for political or economic reforms.

We can see the results in new roads, power plants, and telecommunications networks across Africa. China has financed more than 200 such projects since 2001. There's always a catch in China's foreign-aid gifts. The Chinese loan must be used to buy goods or services from Chinese companies designated by Chinese officials, most of which are government-controlled. There is no such things as competitive bidding, and all contract terms and costs are shrouded in secrecy. New York Times, 9-22-09