[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.
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Post by: CNN's Barbara Starr, CNN's Brad Lendon Filed under: China • Military • Pakistan • World |
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Sent the check taped to the nose of a missile.
Agreed.
1) Cut all ties AND aid (not part of it) to Pakistan.
2) Start MAJOR NEW partnership with India – they are peaceful and it will send a clear message to the region.
3) Let China know that if they continue to work with countries like Pakistan, North Korea, and Iran – trouble will come.
You think WALL STREET IS CORRUPT? China is the most immoral business in the world.
It's unfortunate the US doesn't do a LOT more, especially with China but thanks to our no balls government...
Where were our balls when China held a plane hostage in 2001? No balls then, but I guess it was ok.
How about you two idiots have some "balls" and enlist. If you're not willing to fight then quit telling others in the position what to do
Balls were in the state of N.Y. waiting for the new marriage act
Doesn't do a LOT more? Like what? Go to war with China?
Well thought out plan there genius.
Sam you're an idiot. Work on your reading comprehension.
To Tara: I'm pretty sure sam comprehends perfectly. As an infantry paratrooper with two year long combat tours to Sfghan I am also tired of these internet quarterbacks. If you're willing to make statements like the US doesn't have the balls to act then you better have the balls to enlist when they do act. But hey what do I know? I'm only going on my 3rd deployment in a few months
@11: Thank you for what you have done for us. HOWEVER, I don't think war is the answer regarding China, unless they shoot at us first. Our economic problems are nobody's fault but our own. China never put a gun to our head and forced us to buy all their crappy products.
i wonder how long till the tail section shows up on e-bay?
The Tail section is already back in the states, missing some bits that were taken for samples. there isn't much risk here, china already has alot of samples from a F-117a that was shot down in the late nineties, this stealth tech is prob alot like the stuff that was on the F-117a.
Speaking of, should the item start very low and build in a bidding war? Or should it put at an extremely high price due to the inherent technological/ sentimental value
Odds are that the Chinese already have acquired the technology through one of the manufacturers that moved offshore. With 95% of US manufacturing plants in 2001 now offshore, there is almost no technology left that is unique to the US. Those companies that did not go to China probably still allow photos and who knows what unemployed consultants desperate to make a house payment have taught them. Top that off with the number of companies that left during the early NAFTA era of 1992-2001 where a majority of the manufacturing plants left uncounted so as not to negatively impact anyone's campaigns.
Mitch, classified projects are still 100% manufactured within the borders of the US.
Lukw, stealth technology has changed a great deal over the last couple decades and the technology used in the F-117a is no where near as advanced as those used in modern helicoperts and next generation fixed wing aircraft (F-22, F-35.) China is significantly behind in these technologies. Also, more than just the composition of the materials, but also the design of the rotors on the tail are important to increase acoustic (sound) stealth that does not exist on fixed wing aircraft.
no matter what happened between us n pakistan we the american know that pakistan have nuke n if we dont stay closed friend then 1 day those nuke will move to the wrong hand n we will have to deal with it harder we have no other choice to move now so stick with the bad plan n c where it going to take us to..............................................................................................
My brain just exploded when I tried to read this.
Easy on the drugs son
Why not find a biological solution to this infestation?
It's about time we stop giving aid to them, they've done nothing but stab us in the back at every turn. We need to focus on our country and our people.
Why NOT? Its the price that America accepted to pay by its actions.
How about this take the 800 million, keep it, and tell Pakisban to go "F" themselves!!!!!
The interesting portion of this news article is that Pakistan damaged their own national security more by two-faced actions than U.S. security 'may' have been. A lot of what goes in to stealth technology is manufacturing methods which the Chinese will be hard pressed to replicate, especially on the nano level.
No. It's just that believing that help you sleep better at night. Nothing you said showed how letting the Chinese see the tech damaged Pakistan's national security. Your post doesn't make sense. It's just some irrational statement designed to make you feel better about the situation.
Oh and by the way China already has stealth aircraft which means they already has the nano stealth manufacturing methodology and know how. Furthermore unless you work for the Chinese defense ministry how the hell would you know what manufacturing tech they have or have not. You're just making highly faulty statements designed solely to make you feel better and which can be demonstrated by empirical evidence to be WRONG.
http://michaelfury.wordpress.com/2011/05/11/dead-men-tell/
This is no surprise. We do not have a "partner" in Pakistan. Withdraw all aid, and use as many drones as necessary to control the issues. Same with Afghanistan. Leave, get out, and strike with air as necessary. Bring them all home, Iraq too. We just can't afford it.
Cripes. Everything we're doing over there is with money borrowed from China.
Pakistanis know this and this is why it only right that they get something in return.
China only holds 8 percent of our total debt. Don't exaggerate.
I don't think he knows he is exaggerating; he is just parroting what he has been told.
So we are sending cash to Pakistan while borrowing from China.... Umm good plan America. Carry on.
pakistan has only given us problems. if i were obama i would tell them to take a hike. if a supposed to be friend screwed me over i would cut ties with them. if they want to give the chinese our secrets then we should throw them to the wolves. they need to remember that if we wanted to, we could wipe that country out. china is a bunch of moochers. how about they develope there own tech
I am glad you aren't Obama. Foreign policy and foreign relations are nothing like dealing with a potential friend.
Sounds to me like our deficit needs to be reduced to the order of $800MM....
Sam, you're an idiot. Work on your reading comprehension.
take some of that 800m and use it here at home. Give the kids in some of the less fortunate areas some decent meals and clothing for a change. Let the Pakistani's stand on their on for awhile and dedicate the money to helping here at home.
$800m would hardly feed the homeless in the US for a day.
I'm not sure why everybody is worried now. Their spies – I mean CONSULTANTS – who work at all the major defense contractors walked out with the design on a thumb drive YEARS ago...