CNN: LOU DOBBS TONIGHT February 10, 2006
Chinese Agent Nabbed Trying To Buy Military Secrets
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DOBBS: Communist China operates a huge spying operation in this country. Communist China also is making repeated efforts to steal the latest U.S. military technology.
In the latest development, prosecutors say Communist China tried to steal cruise missiles, air-to-air missiles and aircraft engines. Government officials say Communist China has been involved in hundreds of such cases over the past six years alone.
Christine Romans has the report.
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CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A covert agent of the Chinese government with a very dangerous shopping list. At the top of the list, an F-16 engine.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent Anthony Mangione...
ANTHONY MANGIONE, IMMIGRATION & CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT: It's our belief that this man had an all of lot of money to be able to spread around. And if you see in the indictment, we're talking about $3.5 million or so for this one particular item. And we believe that he had access to much more than that given the shopping list.
ROMANS: According to a nine-count document unsealed in federal court in Florida, China was negotiating to buy not just the F-16 engine, but 70 Black Hawk helicopter engines, AGM-129 cruise missiles. These can carry nuclear warheads and feature stealth technology. And sophisticated air-to-air missiles.
Ko-Suen Moo, a Taiwanese national who authorities say is an agent of the Chinese government, is being held in a federal facility, charged with violating U.S. export control laws and trying to bribe his way out of custody. Also indicted, his co-conspirator, alleged arms broker Frenchman Maurice Voros. He remains at large. Security experts say China has a sophisticated network to acquire military secrets and the money to get them.
JOHN PIKE, GLOBALSECURITY.ORG: If it's a choice between developing their own military technology or stealing, buying military technology developed at American taxpayer expense, you know, I think that the choice is obvious. If this had succeeded, and others certainly are succeeding, this stuff is basically going to wind up threatening Americans.
ROMANS: He says the F-16 engine was likely meant for Venezuela, the other items for China's own military use.
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ROMANS: Immigrations and Customs Enforcement says there's no doubt this Chinese agent was serious. Investigators say he even inspected an F-16 engine, paid $140,000 for the shipping costs and wired more than $3 million to a Swiss bank account to begin paying for this wide array of weaponry for China. Mr. Moo pleaded not guilty to the export charges in this indictment, Lou.
DOBBS: It is -- well, first of all, congratulations to ICE for carrying out the operation and it's good to see some part of this government paying attention to what is critically important to the interest of the nation.
The second part of this is there are more than 4,000 front organizations, communist Chinese front organizations spying in this country right now. Specific purpose, to acquire intellectual property, secrets and technology from this country. And we continue to follow these insane policies in trade and in our basic geopolitical relationships.
ROMANS: ICE says that cases like this are mounting. They're busting about 100 a year and that they're rising. The attempts to outright buy military secrets are rising.
DOBBS: Christine Romans, thank you.
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