It is unlikely that China will use the IBM System p575 purchased to aid weather forecasting in advance and during the 2008 Olympics in Beijing for weapons development after the Olympics due to the country’s ability to domestically produce machines that run at faster speeds.

…..

There is a history of China defense organizations acquiring US-made supercomputers. In 1997, Gary Milhollin, director of the Wisconsin Project on Nuclear Arms Control, reported US-based Silicon Graphics, Inc sold a supercomputer to the Chinese Academy of Sciences without an export license, which, in turn, China used to help develop the country’s long-range missiles. The same company reportedly sold systems to a nuclear laboratory in Chelyabinsk, Russia without an export license as well.

More

Technorati Tags:
sgi, silicon graphics, china, export, military