Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Chinese-born engineer awaits trial
Seattle Post Intelligencer ^ | 3/22/2007 | GILLIAN FLACCUS

Posted on 03/23/2007 10:28:02 AM PDT by Paul Ross

Chinese-born engineer awaits trial

By GILLIAN FLACCUS, ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER,

Seatle-Post Intelligencer, March 22, 2007

Stolen secrets would put U.S. in 'arms race'

SANTA ANA, Calif. -- As a top engineer at a major U.S. defense contractor, Chi Mak helped develop some of the most advanced and closely guarded naval technology in the world, including silent-running propulsion systems that can make submarines virtually undetectable.

Now, in a case that experts say could have serious implications for U.S. security, he is accused of stealing those secrets for the Chinese.

Prosecutors say the Chinese-born Mak was working for China from 1983 until his arrest two years ago, stealing hundreds of documents about a number of defense systems, including the weapons, nuclear reactors and propulsion systems aboard U.S. submarines.

The 66-year-old Mak is set to go on trial Tuesday on charges of conspiracy to export U.S. defense secrets to China, possession of property in aid of a foreign government and failure to register as a foreign agent. He could get more than 50 years in prison if convicted.

If the allegations are true, China may have gained critical information as it tries to develop an open-water fleet to challenge U.S. naval supremacy in Asia, said Richard Fisher, vice president of the International Assessment and Strategy Center, a nonpartisan think tank in Alexandria, Va.

"China's military capabilities would benefit tremendously from the kind of inside information that he's had access to," Fisher said. "If the Chinese are on the inside track on this one, then we are truly in an arms race."

The case is also troubling because the U.S. government might have to declassify evidence and present it to jurors to prove its case.

"This is the bad choice the government faces," said Paul D. Moore, who served for more than 20 years as the FBI's chief China analyst. "There are a number of people running around the United States who have committed espionage and gotten away with it because the government couldn't afford to lose the information they needed to prove the case."

In similar cases, prosecutors withhold evidence deemed too sensitive. Other times, they obtain special security clearances for the judge, jurors and defense attorneys to look at certain classified documents. But the bulk of the evidence must be aired in open court.

Prosecutors in the Mak case did not return calls for comment. Defense attorneys have undergone FBI background checks and received clearance to see certain government evidence.

Mak, a U.S. citizen since 1985, had secret clearance for a decade through his work with Power Paragon, an Anaheim-based subsidiary of the nation's sixth-largest defense company, L-3 Communications.

His attorney, Ronald Kaye, said the government has grossly exaggerated the evidence against his client. He said Mak would never do anything to hurt his adopted country.

"You have a highly regarded 66-year-old engineer who universally is seen as a great asset to our country. He's been a U.S. citizen for over 20 years. He's a homeowner," Kaye said. "Every person you turn to says he's the most generous, committed engineer in the company."

According to prosecutors, Mak took documents from Power Paragon, copied them to computer disks and encrypted them with the help of his brother, Tai Mak, and nephew, Billy Mak, before trying to pass them to a Chinese contact known as "Mr. Pu."

Tai Mak and his wife, Fuk Heung Li, were arrested in 2005 at the Los Angeles airport as they were about to fly to China.

Hidden in their luggage were encrypted disks containing copies of documents on a submarine propulsion system, according to court papers.

The propulsion technology suppresses noise to make submarines virtually undetectable underwater and is "one of the biggest secrets that we have in developments in submarine technology and anti-submarine warfare," Moore said.

Chi Mak was arrested several days later. During a search of his home, investigators found two torn-up notes asking him to get documents on a number of sensitive U.S. naval projects involving torpedoes, electromagnetic artillery, missile-detection and nuclear defense, according to court papers.

Investigators also seized documents on the DDX Destroyer, a next-generation, multi-mission warship as quiet as a submarine; electromagnetic launch systems for aircraft carriers; high-powered electromagnetic guns; and submarine-mounted kinetic energy projectiles, the court papers say.

The government also said it suspects Mak has been feeding information about Aegis-class battleships to China since the 1980s.

Investigators tapped the Maks' phones and installed video cameras in their homes. In one instance, Tai Mak allegedly called his Chinese contact and identified himself as being with the "Red Flower of North America," which the FBI believes is code for a Chinese intelligence operation.

Li, Tai Mak, Billy Mak and Rebecca Laiwah Chiu, the wife of Chi Mak, have all pleaded not guilty to the same charges as Chi Mak and await trial

Kaye explained Chi Mak's behavior by saying, "My client is committed to discussing and learning about technology - that's all."

---

On the Net:

Power Paragon: http://www.powercontrolsystemsgroup.com

L-3 Communications: http://www.l-3.com

(Corrects grafs 3 and 9 to say charges against Chi Mak involve stealing documents for China, not specifically spying.)



TOPICS: Business/Economy; Crime/Corruption; Foreign Affairs; Government
KEYWORDS: china; chinese; espionage; expatriots; treason
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-95 next last

1 posted on 03/23/2007 10:28:05 AM PDT by Paul Ross
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Paul Ross
Kaye explained Chi Mak's behavior by saying, "My client is committed to discussing and learning about technology - that's all."

Rooooight.

Learning about U.S. technology.

Then "discussing" it with the Red Chinese Navy.

2 posted on 03/23/2007 10:29:41 AM PDT by Paul Ross (Ronald Reagan-1987:"We are always willing to be trade partners but never trade patsies.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Paul Ross; mikrofon; Constitution Day; Fierce Allegiance
Tai Mak and his wife, Fuk Heung Li

Oh, man.

3 posted on 03/23/2007 10:32:58 AM PDT by martin_fierro (What's in a fuk hueng name?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Jeff Head

ping


4 posted on 03/23/2007 10:39:30 AM PDT by Calpernia (Breederville.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Paul Ross

Oh, BIG surprise. I used to work at Picatinny Arsenal, in NJ. Lots of sensitive R&D -- they had Chinese engineers out the ass, and they always went home to vist relatives for two and three months at a wheck, each year. A bunch of them lived in NYC's Chinatown, and barely spoke English. No one even batted an eye or thought about it as a security risk.


5 posted on 03/23/2007 10:42:13 AM PDT by Malacoda (A day without a pi$$ed-off muslim is like a day without sunshine.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: martin_fierro

Good thing they aren't from Bangkok.


6 posted on 03/23/2007 10:43:47 AM PDT by Fierce Allegiance (There are 2 types of Rudy fans - the uninformed or anti-conservative TROLLS who do not belong on FR)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: martin_fierro; ponder life
So, you suppose Ponder Life will be cheering this guy on?

That is, if he isn't too busy waving Chinese flags at their warships down at the port...

7 posted on 03/23/2007 10:48:24 AM PDT by Paul Ross (Ronald Reagan-1987:"We are always willing to be trade partners but never trade patsies.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Malacoda; Alamo-Girl; Jeff Head; JohnHuang2; tallhappy; Travis McGee; ALOHA RONNIE; maui_hawaii; ...
No one even batted an eye or thought about it as a security risk.

I'm not terribly surprised:


8 posted on 03/23/2007 10:56:11 AM PDT by Paul Ross (Ronald Reagan-1987:"We are always willing to be trade partners but never trade patsies.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Paul Ross

Chineese engineers work at many of USA top Aerospace companies.


9 posted on 03/23/2007 11:14:57 AM PDT by LM_Guy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: LM_Guy; radar101; gaijin; BobL; Bob J; petertare; rmlew; Tulsa Ramjet; Dog Gone; verum ago; ...
Chinese engineers work at many of USA top Aerospace companies.

So it could well be the tip of the iceberg. One promoted by "globalists" who don't recognize nationalism as a legitimate security issue.

BTW: How many do you suppose were originally hired at H-1B pay rates...displacing American-originated engineers?

10 posted on 03/23/2007 11:26:23 AM PDT by Paul Ross (Ronald Reagan-1987:"We are always willing to be trade partners but never trade patsies.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: martin_fierro; Paul Ross
Mak also supposedly goes by the pseudonym- Ree Li Heung
11 posted on 03/23/2007 11:28:22 AM PDT by mikrofon (At least that's what his wife says...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Paul Ross

If he gave the Chinese the secrets to US sub stealth, for use on their subs, it is HUGE!


12 posted on 03/23/2007 11:28:47 AM PDT by expatpat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: martin_fierro
The english/sino malapropism aside, note how simply lucky were were (assuming they didn't succeed at simply relaying the information via some other courier or vector):

Tai Mak and his wife, Fuk Heung Li, were arrested in 2005 at the Los Angeles airport as they were about to fly to China.

Hidden in their luggage were encrypted disks containing copies of documents on a submarine propulsion system, according to court papers.

The propulsion technology suppresses noise to make submarines virtually undetectable underwater and is "one of the biggest secrets that we have in developments in submarine technology and anti-submarine warfare," Moore said.


13 posted on 03/23/2007 11:29:20 AM PDT by Paul Ross (Ronald Reagan-1987:"We are always willing to be trade partners but never trade patsies.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: expatpat; Jeff Head; Alamo-Girl; GOP_1900AD; color_tear; Tailgunner Joe
If he gave the Chinese the secrets to US sub stealth, for use on their subs, it is HUGE!

Indeed it is...and it should be ASSUMED he succeeded. And no DEALS should be offered to the traitor. Period.

Nothing he says can be trusted. And as a loyal Chi-Comm agent he can be expected to continue to disinform the stupid American Dupes, as they undoubtedly assume us to be.

E.g., note what he says via his mouthpiece in his own defense:

His attorney, Ronald Kaye, said the government has grossly exaggerated the evidence against his client. He said Mak would never do anything to hurt his adopted country. "You have a highly regarded 66-year-old engineer who universally is seen as a great asset to our country. He's been a U.S. citizen for over 20 years. He's a homeowner," Kaye said. "Every person you turn to says he's the most generous, committed engineer in the company."

A HOMEOWNER? Like THAT is a disincentive to his treason...and not just a furthering of his "cover" to ingratiate himself into the trust of Americans? When he is handing over secrets worth TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS??????

And as a 66 year old, in virtually every American company, no matter the technical expertise...he was slated for retirement. Hence, his usefulness as a spy would be drawing to a close...

We MUST assume That his relocation was in the works, and his carrying of hardcopy files was simply his own backups of relayed info.

Meantime, we have people toadying up to these guys...all for the sake of trade.

14 posted on 03/23/2007 11:39:22 AM PDT by Paul Ross (Ronald Reagan-1987:"We are always willing to be trade partners but never trade patsies.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: LM_Guy
Every single one of them needs to be reevaluated for security clearances and sensitive program access.

And not a one of them should escape a political "de-indoctrination" that carefully lays out the real history of the Communists in China, their continued brutality, and their enmity and racism against the rest of mankind...including the land they yearn to takeover for themselves...which they call "the beautiful country."

15 posted on 03/23/2007 11:56:37 AM PDT by Paul Ross (Ronald Reagan-1987:"We are always willing to be trade partners but never trade patsies.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Paul Ross

"He's been a U.S. citizen for over 20 years. He's a homeowner,"

Well there you go. He's a homeowner. Probably has one of those 3 year sub-prime loan ARMs, and was in danger of foreclosure. Should have saw this coming.
Seriously, his head needs to be on a pike in a Chinatown suburb. Oh, but those days are behind us.


16 posted on 03/23/2007 11:56:45 AM PDT by Tulsa Ramjet ("If not now, when?" "Because it's judgment that defeats us.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: Tulsa Ramjet
Probably has one of those 3 year sub-prime loan ARMs, and was in danger of foreclosure. Should have seen this coming.

I wonder if someone didn't. After all, he and his wife were apprehended just at the proverbial last-second before they made their exit...

The financing on his home is a minor economic issue...the Chi-Comms offered the Australian Inventor of the new "Metal Storm" military tech, over a $100 million to relocate to China...with his family...

And that technology, albeit revolutionary, is vastly less militarily and financially significant than almost any of the technology Mak is alleged to have compromised. How much more valuable would the Chi-Comm tech officers have to deem him? How much more do you suppose they offered him?

17 posted on 03/23/2007 12:06:26 PM PDT by Paul Ross (Ronald Reagan-1987:"We are always willing to be trade partners but never trade patsies.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: Paul Ross

We are the most naive bunch of suckers that ever existed.


18 posted on 03/23/2007 12:39:45 PM PDT by happygrl
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Paul Ross
Don't forget this oldie but badie who is now running for President!

 

 

Image courtesy of Registered Media

 

Los Alamos Weapons Lab Drive-Thru

Image courtesy of Registered Media

 

Authentic Brand Disk Drives

Image courtesy of Registered Media


 

19 posted on 03/23/2007 1:15:17 PM PDT by Incorrigible (If I lead, follow me; If I pause, push me; If I retreat, kill me.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: happygrl
We are the most naive bunch of suckers that ever existed.

Indeed. And all of our enemies consistently see us that way...and we keep emboldening them to try it again...


20 posted on 03/23/2007 1:17:44 PM PDT by Paul Ross (Ronald Reagan-1987:"We are always willing to be trade partners but never trade patsies.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-95 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson