Chinese Citizen Pleads Guilty to Attempted Exportation of Aerospace Grade Carbon Fiber to China
A Chinese national pleaded guilty Aug. 19 to attempting to illegally export large quantities of aerospace grade carbon fiber to China in violation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Eastern District of New York said. Ming Suan Zhang, a citizen of the People’s Republic of China, was arrested after trying to acquire a sample of the carbon fiber, which a news release described as a “high-tech material used frequently in the military, defense and aerospace industries.” The carbon fiber could be detrimental to U.S. foreign policy or national security, and is closely regulated by the Department of Commerce “to combat nuclear proliferation and terrorism,” the release said.
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According to the U.S. Attorney’s office, the main applications for the specific fiber composites Zhang sought are in specialized technology in aerospace and nuclear engineering. The material could also be used in military aircraft, and general engineering and transportation, the release said.
Zhang came to the attention of authorities last year after two Taiwanese accomplices used remote Internet contacts to try and locate the samples, which Zhang said he needed in connection with the scheduled test flight of a Chinese fighter plane. He later arranged a meeting with an undercover agent in order to acquire “thousands of pounds” of carbon fiber, which was “to be shipped to China and analyzed for verification.” He was arrested upon arrival, according to court documents. The sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 15, where Zhang will face up to 20 years in prison and up to $1 million in fines.