Chinese `spy' really was, US finds

Taipei Times ^ | 11.29.03

[Dr. Marten]

Chinese `spy' really was, US finds

CAUSE CELEBRE TO FELON: A woman detained by China in 2001 on charges of spying for Taiwan now faces prison in the US for selling microprocessors

REUTERS AND AFP , WASHINGTON
Friday, Nov 28, 2003,Page 1

 

A Chinese-born US resident, defended by Washington two years ago when she was jailed in China on espionage charges, on Wednesday pleaded guilty to illegally selling US technology to China.

Gao Zhan pleaded guilty in the US District Court in Alexandria, Virginia, to unlawfully exporting a controlled item and making a false tax return, court documents showed. The US Attorney's office said she sold Beijing microprocessors with possible military use.

The charge covered a transaction in October 2000, three months before Gao was arrested in China and accused of spying for Taiwan.

Human rights groups and US officials took up Gao's case in 2001 after she was detained on entering China and held for five months on charges of spying for Taiwan. Sentenced to 10 years in jail by a Chinese court, she was released on July 26, 2001, just days before a visit to Beijing by US Secretary of State Colin Powell.

The US Attorney Paul McNulty said Gao used the name "Gail Heights" in trying to order controlled items saying they were for research work at a northern Virginia university.

She received wire transfers from China including from the China National Electronics Import & Export Corp which has known connections to the Chinese military, McNulty said.

The items sold to China were on a list that required authorization from the US Department of Commerce to export, court documents said.

In July 2000, Gao agreed to sell 80 Military Intel486 DX2 microprocessors to Incom Import & Export Company, knowing the items were on the Commerce Department's control list, McNulty said.

"These computers are used on aircraft for navigation, digital flight control, weapons fire control, radar data processing, and airborne battle management systems," a statement from McNulty's office said.

[jocon307]

"Gao Zhan"

Wow, I remember reading about her. Isn't she married to an American, and doesn't she have a small child?

So were the Chicoms right? Or foolish? Did they jail their own spy? Was she a triple agent?

I'm not blaming you Dr. M., but for me this is really a case where an article raises more questions than it answers.

[Dr. Marten]

Well, I would not at all be surprised if China arrested her as a cover.

[clee1]

sell 80 Military Intel486 DX2

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't this technology at least 10 years old?

You could get much better processors simply by calling 1-800-GATEWAY and having them FedEx'ed.

[general_re]

They're military-grade processors. The basic functionality is the same as what you'd get in a ten year old desktop, but the packaging and some other odds and ends are different, to allow them to operate within more extreme enviroments - higher or lower temperatures than ordinary desktop processors, better shock protection, radiation-hardening, better protection from moisture damage, et cetera, et cetera. Generally, stuff that's very useful if you have military applications in mind.

[Terridan]

Oh the unfairness of it all... Klintoon - Bore sell secrets, accept millions in campaign monies, and this poor woman is in trouble... hope she sings like a canary. Remember that Bore dropped out of the race after recieving millions from the Chinese. What a coincidence!
And I can't wait for Bubba Klintoon to begin representing the Chinese Products line. That should pretty much end his and his wife's careers.
Go New York! Nail these traitors... let them know about it next election!

[At _War_With_Liberals]

In 1980, rumor said it was illegal to export an arcade game, Williams' Defender, outside the US. I think it had a Z-80? processor running at 1 mhz! It was to keep it out of Russian hands.

[martin_fierro]

[DarkWaters]

Well, I would not at all be surprised if China arrested her as a cover.

No doubt about it.