Building the new Chinese police state.

China, many might be surprised to learn, is still a communist nation. As such, it has a long and rich history of oppressing the Chinese people. Most of the techniques of oppression practiced by the regime in Beijing were learned from Soviet advisers and were modeled on the Soviet example. Now, often with the help of Western technology firms, China is installing the latest hi-tech gadgetry available in an attempt to stifle dissent and control information. China, says a Wired News summary of the situation, is "well down the road to enacting some of the Orwellian technology that is just now being debated in the U.S."

China, for instance, is rapidly following the British trend, still somewhat lagging here in America, of installing massive numbers of surveillance cameras. "At least 20,000 police surveillance cameras are being installed along streets ... in southern China and will soon be guided by sophisticated computer software from an American-financed company to recognize automatically the faces of police suspects and detect un usual activity," the New York Times reported on August 12.

Another measure involves forcing the Chinese people to carry electronic ID cards that can be used to help track their whereabouts and activities. "If they do not get the permanent card, they cannot live here, they cannot get government benefits, and that is a way for the government to control the population in the future," stated Michael Lin, vice president for investor relations at China Public Security Technology, the company, according to the Times, that is providing the technology.

That company, like many others helping build the hi-tech police state in China, has deep roots right here in America. China Public Security is incorporated in Florida, the Times noted, and "has raised much of the money to develop its technology from two investment funds in Piano, Texas--Pinnacle Fund and Pinnacle China Fund. Three investment banks--Roth Capital Partners in Newport Beach, Calif.; Oppenheimer & Company in New York; and First Asia Finance Group of Hong Kong--helped raise the money."