Current Event #10: Taiwanese Businessman Pleads Guilty To Shipping Missile Parts

Click here to read the BBC News article "Businessman pleads guilty to banned US exports to Iran", written on May 14th.


Taiwanese businessman Yi-Lan Chen was arrested in Guam for attempting to ship thousands of missile components for both military and civilian use to Iran. Under a United States embargo, such exports are illegal. Mr. Chen had organized at least 30 such illegal shipments in the past three years according to the Department of Commerce.

Mr. Chen was caught in February attempting to take possession of 8,500 pounds of glass-to-metal seals and 120 connectors in order to ship them to Iran.

Mr. Chen told prosecutors the supplies were bound for Hong Kong and Taiwan. He faces up to 20 years in prison at his sentencing in July, and both Chen and the company he works for, Landstar Tech Company, both face a fine of up to 1 million dollars.

This article relates to the goings-on of Comparative Government because it deals with foreign policy between the United States and Iran. Iran continues to insist its nuclear program is for civilian purposes, but the US and other countries refute its claims, saying that Iran hopes to build a nuclear weapon.