TEL AVIV — Despite heavy U.S. pressure, China continues to reap advanced dual-use technology from Israel.
Israel has opened its top universities to Chinese students sent abroad
to study science and technology.
Israel's Technion, the Israel Institute of Technology, has for example signed cooperation
agreements with five technological
universities in China meant to enable Chinese academics to spend their
sabbatical year at the leading institute in the Jewish state.
Under the accord, the Technion would fund the Chinese students. The
value of the agreement was not disclosed.
"There is no doubt, that in the long run, the connection created will
pay off for the Technion and the state of Israel when young faculty members
and students who have come to the Technion, will return to their country to
hold key positions," Technion president Prof. Yitzhak Apeloig said.
In 2004, the United States forced Israel to halt a series of military
programs in China. They included the upgrade of Harpy unmanned aerial
vehicles, regarded by the U.S. Defense Department as a major weapon system.
Still, Israeli relations with China remains close. Industry sources said
a key reason was Israel's willingness to help train Chinese students in
advanced Western technology.
A study submitted by a senior Israeli intelligence
official said that in 2005 the Israel Security Agency established a unit
that focused on China.
"The Chinese unit was set up in the wake of the economic boom in the Far
East over the last few years, and improved trade relations especially in the
military and technological fields," the study said.
"Over the last five years, Chinese annual trade has been estimated at
several billions of dollars and includes a range of government and private
mediators, the activities of whom have been difficult to monitor,
particularly China's purchase of advanced military technologies," the study,
first reported by the Israeli daily Yediot Aharonot, said. "The recruitment
campaign includes students who studied in China over the last few years and
who speak the language and are familiar with the culture."
