IBM Sale to Chinese Worries Feds

[truthpusher]

http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/news/012405_NW_ibmespionage.html

IBM Sale to Chinese Worries Feds

By Darla Miles

(01/24/05 -- RALEIGH) — Communist spies and industrial espionage -- elements usually found in Hollywood. But the U.S. government is concerned that it could happen in the Research Triangle Park.
When IBM sold its $1.75 billion PC division to the Chinese company Lenovo, it signaled a rebirth for the struggling Big Blue unit.

"They've been losing sales to producers like Dell," said Dr. Mike Walden, and N.C. State University economist.

It was salvation for IBM employees, but the sale raised a red flag in Washington. The departments of Homeland Security, Justice and the Treasury must sign off on the deal before it is final. Officials are concerned that IBM offices in the Triangle could be used by Chinese spies.

(snip)

Experts say the Chinese government has a reputation for trying aggressively to find ways of exploiting international business deals for military purposes. They also say that IBM has a good track record for being very careful and preventing it from happening.

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