US indicts Chinese nationals on illegal export charges

Two Chinese nationals have been charged by a US grand jury with trying to obtain microchips that are prohibited from export, Bloomberg reported. The products in question, radiation-hardened microchips, are used in the military and aerospace industries. Hong Weixian, also known as Harry Zan, 32, and Li Li, also known as Lea Li, 33, stand accused of conspiring to violate the US Arms Export Control Act and attempting to smuggle goods out of the country. The charges carry maximum prison terms of five years and 20 years respectively. Xian and Li are the president and vice president of Beijing Starcreates Space Science & Technology Development. According to the US Justice Department, the company imports and sells microchips to state-owned China Aerospace Science & Technology Corp. The two men were arrested in Hungary in September.