In March last year, the unmanned X-37B US military spaceplane launched from Cape Canaveral on mission USA-226, to "demonstrate various experiments", sensors and technology. Its original 270 day mission was extended in November "as circumstances allow" for "additional experimentation opportunities", but a dedicated group of optical tracking specialists in the US and Europe believe that the X-37B is in fact spying on the Chinese space station Tiangong-1. [more inside]
posted by adrianhon on Jan 5, 2012 - 59 comments

Dr. Paul Linebarger became a spy for the U.S. Intelligence community because he was an expert in propaganda, psychological warfare, and the culture of China. In his other secret life, however, he wrote some of the most wildly inventive and unusual science fiction ever, forming a history of mankind and its Instrumentality that spanned fifteen thousand years. To protect his identity, he published under the name Cordwainer Smith.
posted by Hildago on Feb 21, 2002 - 15 comments

I spy. You spy too Anything we do you do too: China big in the sky spy game
posted by Postroad on Apr 19, 2001 - 4 comments

Bush Virtual Pet Game Soars in China "In the wake of the downed U.S. spy plane, the Chinese apparently have found a new way to ridicule President George W. Bush - a virtual pet modeled after him" [They need a Palm Pilot to mock Bush?]
posted by Outlawyr on Apr 17, 2001 - 4 comments

I spy again As that great American icon says in her song: oophs, I did it again. America to send another spy plane to cruise the Chinese coast. Jesse, keep your bag packed.
posted by Postroad on Apr 11, 2001 - 28 comments

U.S. Refuses To Apologize to China - This seems to me to be the right decision. What do you think we should do here?
posted by revbrian on Apr 4, 2001 - 88 comments

What the Pentagon has lost The American spy plane carried very sophisticted andf important snoopware...did they destroy what they could before landing?
posted by Postroad on Apr 2, 2001 - 25 comments