[Updated at 12:02 p.m.] Chinese military engineers likely got to examine the wreckage of the U.S. stealth helicopter that crashed during the raid on Osama bin Laden's compound in Pakistan, according to news reports.
"We have reason to suspect China was given access, but we cannot confirm it definitively. We have strong suspicions," a U.S. official told CNN.
Pakistani intelligence operatives likely gave the Chinese access to the wreckage, the New York Times reported, citing American officials and other intelligence sources.
The Chinese engineers were able to photograph the wreckage and take samples of the stealth skin that helps the chopper avoid radar detection, intelligence sources told the Financial Times.
When the aircraft crashed during the raid that killed the al Qaeda leader in May, Navy SEALs destroyed most of it to protect the technology. But the tail section remained mostly intact and it was that area that the Chinese engineers examined, according to the New York Times report.
U.S. intelligence is basing its opinion that the Chinese got access to the stealth copter on intercepted phone conversations, the Times reported.
A U.S. official says “we have reason to suspect China was given access but we cannot confirm it definitively. We have strong suspicions.â€
Pakistani officials contacted by the New York Times refused comment on the matter. The Financial Times said a Pakistani official denied the accusations.
Both newspapers noted that China and Pakistan enjoy a longstanding military relationship.
The raid that killed bin Laden, staged without informing Pakistan, stoked tensions between the U.S. and Pakistan.
In July, the U.S. said it was withholding $800 million in aid to Pakistan.
"They've taken some steps that have given us reason to pause on some of the aid which we're giving to the military, and we're trying to work through that," White House Chief of Staff William Daley said at the time.
|
Post by: CNN's Barbara Starr, CNN's Brad Lendon Filed under: China • Military • Pakistan • World |
This blog – This Just In – will no longer be updated. Looking for the freshest news from CNN? Go to our ever-popular CNN.com homepage on your desktop or your mobile device, and join the party at @cnnbrk, the world's most-followed account for news.
I would call you a worthless pile of crap, but that would be an insult to piles of crap.
Yet, we still give money to pakistan and we assist china.
You KNOW they did!
Pakistan is no friend of the US.
Not sure why the Chinese didn't just demand access to our helicopters, since we owe them so much money anyhow. Regardless, the bad-guys in this situation are Pakistan, who continue to thwart our efforts to make the region safe, not China, who simply want the same things we want.
Obama is out campaigning and the Chinese are stealing the store. We need leadership and credibility again in Washington.
I say we pull out and nuke the place from orbit. It's the only way to be sure.
I went to Singapore (not chinese but predominant class is ethnically chinese) and in their libraries I started reading about china and their view on us. Their strategy is to only sell us cheap junk for profit, nothing advantageous to our nation will ever be traded or sold. Then IF they make something hi tech or really good for infrastructure they will keep it for themselves. We view trade as mutually beneficial, Chinese view all interactions as a form of warfare. Not like kill your enemy kinda war but to the chinese there are always a winner and loser in EVERY negotiation and they will not deal with us unless they feel they won in the trade deal. We should start looking at it the same way or risk losing this economic warfare going on between the two great countries.
Marc, that is a very insightful observation. Unfortunately, what you described is something America has historically been bad at: respecting and understanding the culture of others.
Still remember when pakistan said they didnt have any crashed copter and had covered it behind the compound with a bed sheet......
if US and china get to war,will be end of the world.. nuke missiles flying everywhere.. so why bother with stealth choppers
WORD.
Why don't you go blow yourself up somewhere. Do us all that favor. That's what people like you like to do these days anyway. Please dispatch your useless existence.
Isn't this old news? I'm pretty certain this was reported on at the time, with worries that the Pakistani's would allow Chinese inspectors to visit the compound before handing helicopter parts to the U.S.
China already has a huge military so who are they afraid of? Or, who are they planning to attack?
or China is getting ready to defend themselves against US/NATO war of aggression against any country that that kneel to their dictates
Dude if you can find fake Apple Stores in China, yes, actual fake apple stores, along with fake ikea stores, I mean literally the store is the fake, not the products, of course, China would want to see if they could copy said technology. They could sell it, if they could replicate it.
STOP! These countries are NOT our friends, nor are they our allies. STOP BUYING "FRIENDS", CONGRESS. No matter HOW much we spend on military, if we actually USE it, stuff like this WILL happen, nullifying the billions of dollars and years of development. I'm done with the US. I've watched it be destroyed by the rich and the politicians over the last 45 years. It _will not_ end well for the US. If I'm going to be relegated to living in a cesspool, I'm going to live elsewhere, thanks.
Now, expect a cheap version of it pretty soon. LOL!
Why wouldn't they show it to China...??? China are their true friend which they can count on rain or shine..the US mounted a sneak attack in Pakistan's territory and therefore by giving access to the Chinese the Pakistanis will eventually benefit from this technology....