Tech Sales to China
Re “Outfitting China’s Military--Again,” Opinion, Jan. 23: Bostomatic Corp. sold over 15 machines to China in the 1990s. Our machines have not been used in China to produce materials for weapons, and we monitor the machines through regular visits. Bostomatic has never shipped a machine to China without U.S. government approval.
Gary Milhollin portrays our machine as a “computer-controlled marvel . . . capable of making high-precision parts for China’s next generation of fighters, bombers and missiles,” implying that we have a unique monopoly on this technology. There are 24 manufacturers worldwide producing similar equipment. If a Chinese company does not buy the machine from Bostomatic they will buy it from Germany, Japan, Italy, etc. It is in our national interest to sell these machines and to monitor their use.
Milhollin accuses the Agie Charmilles Group of being a “suspect conglomerate.” As evidence he notes that the group has machines in Iraq. A wide range of menacing countries have been U.S. allies, including at various times Iraq and Iran. In both countries high-tech American machine tools are in use. Does Milhollin condemn those companies that dealt with these countries when the U.S. literally promoted sales to their regimes?
MILES ARNONE, President
Bostomatic Corp., Agie
Charmilles Group, Milford, Mass.
Austria
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Re “Specter of Nazi Hate in Austria,” editorial, Feb. 1: Seventy-three percent of Austrian voters did not cast their ballot for Joerg Haider’s party. Of those who did, the majority did not vote for this party because of anti-foreigner sentiments. Austria is a stable, civil and successful democracy. It has always pursued an outstanding humanitarian policy. These pillars of the Austrian postwar existence will not change.
Concerns voiced in Austria and abroad about Haider’s party are being taken very seriously. Stating that Austria would deserve a pariah status, as your editorial has done, does not do justice to Austria’s postwar record nor is it a fair assessment of what Austria and the vast majority of Austrians stand for.
WERNER BRANDSTETTER
Consul General of Austria, L.A.