This post was first made by us on November 08, 2011, and as of yet have seen no resolution or divulgence of any congressional fact-finding by our Republican
"watchdogs".
Any logical person would identify it as espionage, not by the Chinese, but by one of our own corporations. But, that's old-fashioned nonsense and impolite diplomacy today.
Representative Randy Forbes (R-Virginia) has asked the Department of Defense to investigate GE’s agreement with the Chinese state-owned aviation company, AVIC, to develop next-generation commercial avionics. Although the arrangement applies only to development of civilian aircraft, Forbes says there’s nothing to stop China from using the same technology in its air force.
“Given [the technology’s] military origin, I am deeply concerned, once in [China], it will wind up aiding the military aviation programs of the People’s Liberation Army Air Force, which is even now developing its J-20 fifth-generation fighter that appears intended to threaten U.S. air supremacy in East Asia,” wrote Forbes to Defense Secretary Leon Panetta.
GE officials have insisted that no military technology will be transferred to China under the partnership. However, as Gabe Collins and U.S. Naval War College associate professor Andrew Erickson wrote on chinasignpost.com, “Joint ventures with jet engine market leaders like General Electric (GE) have the potential to give the Chinese aerospace industry a 100 piece puzzle with 90 of the pieces already assembled. Enough is left out so that the exporting companies can comply with the letter of the export control laws, but in reality, a rising military power is potentially being given relatively low-cost recipes for building the jet engines needed to power key military power projection platforms including tankers, AWACS, maritime patrol aircraft, transport aircraft, and potentially, subsonic bombers armed with standoff weapons systems.”
Earlier this year, AVIC bought Minnesota-based Cirrus Aircraft, which specializes in small planes.
The CEO of General Electric, Jeffrey Immelt, is the chairman of Barack Obama’s President’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness. The president of AVIC, Lin Zuoming, is an alternate member of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party.
-David Wallechinsky, Noel Brinkerhoff
"watchdogs".
Any logical person would identify it as espionage, not by the Chinese, but by one of our own corporations. But, that's old-fashioned nonsense and impolite diplomacy today.
Is GE Helping the Chinese Communists Develop Advanced Military Aviation Technology?
Monday, November 07, 2011
General Electric’s business dealings with China have drawn criticism from a Republican lawmaker concerned that the company may wind up helping the Asian giant develop advanced military aircraft similar to U.S. warplanes.
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| GE CEO Jeffrey Immelt and AVIC president Lin Zuoming shake hands at GE-AVIC signing (photo-GE) |
“Given [the technology’s] military origin, I am deeply concerned, once in [China], it will wind up aiding the military aviation programs of the People’s Liberation Army Air Force, which is even now developing its J-20 fifth-generation fighter that appears intended to threaten U.S. air supremacy in East Asia,” wrote Forbes to Defense Secretary Leon Panetta.
GE officials have insisted that no military technology will be transferred to China under the partnership. However, as Gabe Collins and U.S. Naval War College associate professor Andrew Erickson wrote on chinasignpost.com, “Joint ventures with jet engine market leaders like General Electric (GE) have the potential to give the Chinese aerospace industry a 100 piece puzzle with 90 of the pieces already assembled. Enough is left out so that the exporting companies can comply with the letter of the export control laws, but in reality, a rising military power is potentially being given relatively low-cost recipes for building the jet engines needed to power key military power projection platforms including tankers, AWACS, maritime patrol aircraft, transport aircraft, and potentially, subsonic bombers armed with standoff weapons systems.”
Earlier this year, AVIC bought Minnesota-based Cirrus Aircraft, which specializes in small planes.
The CEO of General Electric, Jeffrey Immelt, is the chairman of Barack Obama’s President’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness. The president of AVIC, Lin Zuoming, is an alternate member of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party.
-David Wallechinsky, Noel Brinkerhoff
- Lawmaker Seeks Probe into GE’s China Ties (by John Reed, Military.com)
- A Chinese “Heart” for Large Civilian and Military Aircraft: Strategic and Commercial Implications of China’s Campaign to Develop High-Bypass Turbofan Jet Engines (by Gabe Collins and Andrew Erickson, China SignPost)
- Why Did Obama Choose Outsourcing Champion Jeffrey Immelt as Jobs Advisor? (by Noel Brinkerhoff, AllGov)
