US prosecutors said that Xun Wang faces up to five years in jail and a fine of $250,000 for conspiring to violate US law by sending the high-quality paint coatings to Pakistan via China after being refused a US export license.
No sentencing date was set.
"At the end of last year, the Chinese subsidiary of a US company pleaded guilty to illegally exporting high-performance coatings for use in a Pakistani nuclear reactor," said US Attorney Ronald Machen in the capital Washington.
"Today we are pleased to see the former managing director of that subsidiary accept responsibility for her role in the crime.
"We also welcome the defendant's decision to cooperate with the government in our ongoing investigation of this blatant violation of US export laws."
Wang, 51, the ex-managing director of PPG Paints Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, pleaded guilty to conspiring to export and ship high-performance epoxy coatings to the Chashma 2 Nuclear Power Plant in Pakistan (Chashma II).
The facility is run by the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC), the science and technology organization responsible for Pakistan's nuclear program, including the development and operation of atomic power plants.
In November 1998, following Pakistan's first successful detonation of a nuclear device, the US Commerce Department added the PAEC to the list of banned end-users of such goods under American export regulations.
Wang has already paid a separate $200,000 penalty in connection with her case.
According to her plea documents, in January 2006, PPG Industries sought an export license for the shipments of coatings to Chashma II. In June 2006, the US Department of Commerce denied the application.
But Wang and her co-conspirators then agreed upon an illegal scheme to export and ship PPG Industries' high-performance epoxy coatings from the United States to Chashma II, via a third-party distributor in China.
COMMENTS (32)
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@Jeddy
Superb. But I guess, it's too subtle to be apprehended by your intended targets. Hope they get it.
@Abdul: Indians did not sell the nuclear technology to Iran and Libya to name just two countries.
@Usman Saeed: There are lots of Pakistani Laws which are broken by army personnel, like overthrowing elected politicians at the very top. Remember Ayub Khan, Yahya Khan, Zia ul Haq, and Musharraf to name a few! Remember the massacre of millions of Bengali muslim brethren. Remember Tikka Khan who was subsequently rewarded by promotion to the post of army chief! Maybe Pakistani history books do not talk about these things.
@ Shatruataat.........you are out of context.......i wrote "prima-facie".........in fact US & Bharat were in league..Please stand corrected.
In preparation for an invasion, all means are justified to defend the country.
Tony S.....
US is governed by Law?? Really? I'd say it's 'Governed' by Money,Power and Fear(Real or Imagined).
But I only live here. So...there's no worth.
@Usman Saeed: "India was a security threat around in 1971 when our country split into two but it isn’t now." Your entire post is quite logical which would suggest that you gained strength once you unloaded "Bangla Desh" - your country was a split entity the minute it was born - and thence forward India ceased to be a threat. Bulochistan could - and should - plead that it is in your own interest if you quit Bulochistan also. Please do consider taking one more obvious step - and strengthen yourself!
@Paan Sen: Conspiracy is bread and butter for them!
@IsmailTara: Yes India is a biggest arms buyer because it has money, and New Delhi is doing it within the ambit of law, its not buying stolen or smuggled nuclear stuff or discreetly selling nuclear technology to the rogue nations.
@k. Salim Jahangir: Mr Jhangir you are contradicting yourself-on the one had you are saying that Bharat and the US didn't see "eye ball to eye ball" on the other hand you are saying that it was with the help of the US and Israel that India could build its bomb-you need some lessons in history-"your successive government let the US use you"-what you got to be used anyways-its actually the other way round-you used the US to further your goals- be it economic or Geo-political, military or sending ignorant, poverty stricken unemployed youths as jihadis into Indian territory to wage a proxy war against the Indian state in Kashmir. You know what the difference between a fighter who keeps losing and a loser who keeps fighting? While a fighter instead of blaming others focuses on his own weaknesses and improves his skills in order to win and a loser instead of looking within keep blaming others-fighting others in other words and Pakistan and its people are suffering from the loser mentality at the moment-across the board i.e.!
@Baqar: You could build (import would be the most appropriate word here) bombs from the scratch thanks to China, on your own you could not build even a fire cracker let alone a nuclear bomb!
@Usman Saeed: So what in essence you are saying is that if the US wants to remain friends with Pakistan it should look the other way so that you continue with nuclear proliferation and smuggling rackets of nuclear material from around the world?
@Usman Saeed: Usman Mian, it is unfortunate that you consider India to be a security threat. We have no-first use policy vis-a-vis our nukes. Our nuclear weapons are not even meant for Pakistan. Not to mention, we have never been involved in nuclear proliferation. Can you reciprocate any of these? Your post seems to justify procuring banned item any way possible. I sincerely hope I misunderstood it or I would seriously consider the thievery as your State policy.
Sincerely!
A lot of people above are referring to us as if we are professional thieves who get everything by theiving. WRONG. The fact is, we were forced to. USA bred a nuclear armed neighbour in our midst knowing that security of our country has always been a problem. But everyone turned a blind eye to India going nuclear. So what should we do, just sit around waiting for India to make us its satellite state like others in South Asia. It won't happen. As for developing the epoxy, i am sure we can. But it takes time to develop it so whats wrong procuring it?
The deal must had the backing of the Chinese state machinery since all private enterprises abroad are controlled by their govt.
@Baqar - "If we can build a bomb from the scratch…getting the other stuff is no big deal" . But you didn't build the bomb from scratch - you stole the design and were given the fuel by the Chinese. Probably explains why you can't invent/develop the high quality epoxy covering that this women was trying to illegally export from the USA.
America not your true friend for following a law? What about you guys - buying a banned item from your friend illegally? Does that make you a good friend? Do you guys ever think about your own behavior?
@IsmailTara: - i think you overstate the importance of the 2 I's *
I strongly believe in what my brother in faith Usman said here. Why are there restrictions only on Pakistan, India also tested its bombs in the same year as Pakistan. Why were sanctions on India were lifted. If there is injustice, illegal ways automatically sprang up. @Yuri.....you wish .... Pakistans nukes are safer than urs baby. Taken by US, they tried three times to run an undercover mission and they got caught all the times. Its ALLAHs blessing on us that we are separate from India. You jus cant digest that.
@IsmailTara: Pakistan losing its nukes to USA is not a matter if, but a matter of when. All the three parties (US, Israel and India) are playing a waiting game.
@k. Salim Jahangir: Is there a holy grail for conspiracy theories in Pakistan.
@Tony Singh I don't disagree with the verdict as per THE LAW. What is interesting is that there are a lot of Pakistani specific laws to withhold from Pakistan a lot of high tech. I would agree with you the second when some western country faces similar restrictions. And please Pakistan isn't some famine stricken African country that hasn't any laws to follow. Unless you are referring to some special laws that i haven't heard of yet.
@Usman Saeed: "I wonder if America keeps doing this, how can we ever call it our friend"
Your expectation clearly documented illegal activity being punished after a trial in the court of law makes America 'not a friend'. Yet Pakistan is a goofd ally when it simply goes and arrests 6 Americans for no crime greater than taking pictures of the Islamabad airport. Really the double standrds are so weird.
India is the biggest arms buyer of Israel. In 2003 Ariel Sharon suggested to conduct surgical strikes to take away our nukes. It is only a matter of time when USA, at the behest of Israel and India, will ante up the pressure on our nukes. The case in this news article (and many more to come) will give the US world support against our nuke program.
@Usman Saeed: \World know better who is a puppy...... BTW pakistan is not even a puppy, but its a slave of puppy mindset....
@Usman Saeed: There is a difference between thief and buyer , my friend.
America has been doing that since time immemorial.The first atomic device detonated by Bharat in seventies was developed by them with the help of USA & Israel ,while Bharat was having a love affair with the then Soviet Union.That was the time when prima -facie both Bharat & the US did not see eye ball to eye ball & Pakistan was considered America's most favourite friend. America always have had double standards.To our bad luck our successive governments allowed themselves to be used by the US for tuppence to our disadvantage....but now for how long,when Uncle Sam is badly exposed not once but innumerable times.Heavens will not fall if we keep them at arms length.
@Usman Saeed: Unlike Pakistan, US is governed by Law. If the Law (rightly or wrongly) states that a particular technology or product cannot be sold to Pakistan, the violators of that Law will be punished. Its as simple as that.
I wonder if America keeps doing this, how can we ever call it our friend while all the while supplying such stuff to its favorite puppies India and Israel. Sorry if any Indian or Israeli is reading this but i find very hard to not say what is the truth.
If we can build a bomb from the scratch...getting the other stuff is no big deal