Computer lab’s Chinese-made parts raise spy concerns

Washington Times ^ | 8/17/2011 | Eli Lake

[Battle Hymn of the Republic]

A U.S. supercomputer laboratory engaged in classified military research concluded a recent deal involving Chinese-made components that is raising concerns in Congress about potential electronic espionage.

The concerns are based on a contract reached this summer between a computer-technology firm and the National Center for Computational Engineering at the University of Tennessee, whose supercomputers simulate flight tests for next-generation U.S. military aircraft and spacecraft, and simulate submarine warfare for the Navy.

The storage system for the contract calls for using software from U.S. cybersecurity firm Symantec installed over devices made by Huawei Technologies...

[driftdiver]

Just outsource it to China, think of all the jobs it will create.

[D-fendr]

I would think it prudent for any defense-related manufacturing and research stipulate against this. We have the best chip makers in the U.S. and there’s no good reason to rely elsewhere.

[Prokopton]

Typical, incredible, U.S. naivete/stupidity.

[FatherofFive]

I would think it prudent for any defense-related manufacturing and research stipulate against this. We have the best chip makers in the U.S. and there’s no good reason to rely elsewhere.

We should not hire chinese or russians or muslins, either.

just saying.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Someone needs to be fired.

[indthkr]

If the choices are:

1. A Chinese made box, made from Chinese components, with a Chinese brand.
2. A Chinese made box, made from Chinese components, with a US Brand.

In some respects, it may make more sense to cut-out the middleman, eliminate the ambiguity, and just go with 1.

Fortunately, there are high performance US made alternatives....but I'm sure they don't sell for "Walmart Prices".

[Mariner]

Huawei got started by reverse engineering of Cisco code and board/chip designs.

Then they injected their own special bits of code deep within the ASICs.

To allow them anywhere near ANY core infrastructure, much less a DoD facility is tantamount to treason...

[Ol' Dan Tucker]

We have the best chip makers in the U.S. and there’s no good reason to rely elsewhere.

Are they actually manufacturing these chips in the USA or just designing them here and manufacturing them elsewhere, such as China?

[BereanBrain]

I work in the IT industry.

I bet the Chinese “greased” the wheels a bit.

The real problem is corruption at every level of government.

When they allow Tax Cheats like the Sec of Treasury a free pass, the signal is “take all you can grab”

We need to put people in jail to stem the tide.

[az_gila]

I would think it prudent for any defense-related manufacturing and research stipulate against this. We have the best chip makers in the U.S. and there’s no good reason to rely elsewhere.

---

Best chip designers, but few chips are actually made in the US any more.

[Billyv]

American Public schools rush to China to import Chinese teachers to teach Chinese to Americans......?