Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=11/26/03

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=U-S / CHINA (S-O)

NUMBER=2-310270

BYLINE=STEPHANIE HO

DATELINE=WASHINGTON

INTERNET=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: A Chinese-born U-S resident has pleaded guilty to illegally selling high-tech equipment to China that can be used in weapons systems. V-O-A's Stephanie Ho has more from Washington.

TEXT: In federal court in the U-S state of Virginia Wednesday, academic Gao Zhan pleaded guilty to the unlawful export of high-tech items to China and tax evasion.

U-S officials say over the course of four years, from 1998 through 2001, Ms. Gao sold one-and-a-half million dollars worth of microprocessors and other items to China. The microprocessors have commercial uses, but they are on a list of items that require U-S government authorization to export.

Ms. Gao also pleaded guilty to not reporting most of the income on her tax returns.

Prosecutors say they will ask for a reduced sentence because she has been helping the U-S government identify Chinese officials who are seeking to import sensitive American goods.

In 2001, Chinese authorities arrested Ms. Gao in China and convicted her of spying for arch-rival Taiwan. After five months in jail, she was released under intense pressure from the U-S government, just days before Secretary of State Colin Powell was due to visit Beijing. (SIGNED)

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