Slashdot Mirror
If You're a Foreigner Using GPS In China, You Could Be a Spy
tedlistens writes "China has accused Coca Cola of espionage for its 'illegal mapping,' allegedly with the use of GPS 'devices with ultra high sensitivity.' On its face the case looks like yet another example of China's aggressive sensitivity about its maps, no doubt heightened by its ongoing fracas with the U.S. over cyberwar. Li Pengde, deputy director of the National Administration of Surveying, Mapping and Geoinformation, said during a radio interview on Tuesday that the Coca Cola case was only one of 21 similar cases involving companies using GPS devices in Yunnan to 'illegally obtain classified information.' According to Chinese authorities, geographical data can be used by guided missiles to strike key military facilities — a concern that one GPS expert says is overblown at a time when the U.S. government already has high-precision satellite maps of China. Nevertheless, Chinese law dictates that foreigners, be they companies or individuals, are prohibited from using highly-sensitive GPS equipment in China."
This makes me think of the classic 1953 Billy Wilder comedy involving a Coca-Cola executive going to East Berlin to open up the iron curtain for Coke products.
Hilarious in a dated sort of way. Tremendous pacing, starring James Cagney.
A great way to pick up mid-century American culture.
Just get out of China.
But keep sending your food.
And keep sending us your industry.
Oh, your tech too. Keep sending that.
Otherwise, just stay the hell out, round-eye.
Maw! Fire up the karma burner!
China also owns most of US foreign debt.
Actually, China owns about 8% of our national debt.
Even if you only consider debt own by foreign countries, China owns only 26% of that, about the same as Japan.