By day, Chi Mak worked as an electrical engineer for Power Paragon-one of the world's most powerful military contractors that provided advanced technology for warplanes, tanks, submarines and navy ships.

His life was typical of a Los Angeles upper-middle class Chinese-American family shared with his wife Rebecca Laiwah Chiu, brother Tai Wang Mak, a Chinese TV director and his brother‘s wife, Fuk Heung Li.

Unbeknownst to Chi, there was a secret camera planted in his home, his e-mail was being intercepted and his residence was searched several times by FBI agents.

Last month, the year long surveillance led to the FBI arresting the four and accusing them of being part of a spy ring that was feeding China for some 20 years with highly sensitive military secrets.

The arrests came as Chi‘s brother Tai, who is thought to be a spy master working for China‘s military intelligence apparatus, was to take data obtained from Paragon‘s computers to a contact in China on Oct 28.

“Chi (who had secret-level security clearance) uses his workstation at Power Paragon to collect the information he has been tasked to provide to the People‘s Republic of China,“ the FBI stated, as they began assessing one of the most damaging spy cases ever uncovered in the United States.

So far they estimate that Chi worked on more than 200 defense and military contracts, including the Aegis battle management systems that are the core of U.S. Navy destroyers-which China has already copied-and technology related to tracking attack submarines that potentially could be devastating if the United States enters a conflict with China in defending Taiwan.

The spy ring is also thought to have assisted the Chinese military development of electromagnetic pulse weapons-weapons that simulate the electronic shock caused by a nuclear blast-that disrupt electronics and aerial surveillance technology.

As the story unfolds, the sinister operations of the spy family have some potentially serious ramifications for Canada.

Chi‘s employer Power Paragon is a division of New York‘s L3 Communications that acquired the Edmonton-based Spar Aerospace in 2001.

Spar‘s major customers include the Canadian and U.S. militaries, the Royal Malaysian Air Force and a number of North American commercial airlines and international military air forces.

Spar Aerospace Limited also built the C$18.6 million antenna system for the International Space Station to relay science data and video signals.

Last February, Ottawa signed a $117-million contract to upgrade and modernize 80 of Canada‘s aging fleet of CF-18 jet fighters.

The work was to extend the life of the warplanes through 2017. They include secure data and communications links to stay in constant contact with aircraft of ally nations in critical battle situations, cockpit control display panels, helmet visors that display instrument readings-allowing pilots to fly the jet without having to look down at the panel in crucial moments-and attacking-missile avoidance systems.

L3 Communications Canada, the sister company of Chi‘s employer, Power Paragon, was the main sub-contractor.

L-3 Communications Canada also got the C$800 million contract to deliver the Maritime Helicopter Program to replace the Canadian Forces‘ fleet of Sea King Helicopters.

In February this year, L-3 Communications expanded to include another company in its Canadian family called L-3 Communications MAPPS Inc.

On its website, L-3 Communications MAPPS Inc. proudly boasts of its connections with Paragon and states: “The business has been a pioneer in the integration of military shipboard control systems and its systems are installed on approximately 140 ships for 18 navies around the world.“

The FBI says it is this type of technology that Chi and his family of spies were siphoning off to China.

The allegations against Chi‘s spy ring have caused serious damage to L-3 Communications Corporation which had revenues of over US$7 billion and a dynamic history.

It also serves as another signal to multi-nationals and North America that China has an organized program designed to gather high-technology data and equipment of military use.

See related Asian Pacific Post stories:

• Editorial: One cop‘s sacrifice to save Canada, Jun 23, 2005
  
• 3,500 Chinese spy companies identified in Canada and U.S, Aug 7, 2003
  
• Chretien hooks up with shady Chinese firm,Feb 19, 2004
  
• Rogue companies have Canadian connections, Jul 25, 2002
  
• Modern day “Matahari” slept with the enemy to steal their secrets, Apr 24, 2003