Here’s a strange twist. The Morrisville City Council seems about to give Chinese computer giant Lenova $1 million in tax breaks – to relocate there.
Giving tax breaks – even to a Chinese conglomerate – is not strange. But what’s unusual is that the federal government told Lenovo it had to leave the Research Triangle Park Campus (after Lenovo purchased IBM’s computer division) – because federal officials were worried about spying by the Chinese company (News and Observer 1-23-06). So, Morrisville is planning to give a tax subsidy to a Chinese company the federal government thinks may be spying. And, Governor Easley, has chipped in $14 million more in tax breaks from the state.
Now, why would we subsidize a Chinese conglomerate the federal government feels may be spying? And if the federal government doesn’t want Lenova in the Research Triangle Park – because, I guess, of the secrets there – how does it feel about having them a few miles down the road in Morrisville?