(Infoweek, 11/18/08)A Chinese-born scientist working in Virginia has pleaded guilty to selling U.S. technology and military secrets for rocket propulsion to China, though news service XFN-Asia reported that the Chinese government insists the charges were “completely fabricated.” Quan-Sheng Shu pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Norfolk to charges of bribery in violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and breaking the federal Arms Export Control Act.

The U.S. Department of Justice said the physicist in Newport News exported technical space launch data and defense services to the People’s Republic of China and offered bribes to Chinese government officials. Shu, a naturalized U.S. citizen, exported defense services from January 2003 through October 2007 by helping China design and develop a cryogenic fueling system for space launch vehicles in Hainan, China, U.S. prosecutors said in an indictment. China plans to use the facility to launch space stations, satellites, manned space flights, and lunar missions, according to the complaint. [1] http://www.informationweek.com/news/security/attacks/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=212100587&cid=RSSfeed_IWK_Security