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On this episode of China Uncensored.
Bugs! Bugs everywhere!
Hi, welcome to China Uncensored, I'm your host Chris Chappell.
So hey, I know we talk a lot about Chinese companies buying up U.S. properties
but really, how big a deal is it?
Well, apparently enough that constitutes such a threat to the President of the United States.
The one Barack Obama stayed in New York City over the weekend,
he broke from eight decades of tradition.
"In fact for the first time in recent memory, a sitting U.S. President
won't be staying at the famed Waldorf-Astoria Hotel."
Whoa! That's kinda strange!
This hotel has been a major part of U.S. presidential history.
In fact, its presidential suite isn't just a name.
Every one of America's previous 13 Presidents has stayed there.
It was literally built for President Herbert Hoover back in the 30s.
You'd remember him. He's that Dam president.
"The accommodations which run upwards of six grand a night
are fully outfitted for the commander-in-chief with bulletproof glass and serious security amenities."
President FDR even had a secret subway track built
that took him from Grand Central Station to underneath the Waldorf.
A discrete entrance, an escape route.
So I don't get it.
Why would Obama not want to stay there?
Is it somehow lacking in security measures?
"The fears that the famed suite may have been bugged after the hotel was sold to a Chinese company."
Last year, China's Anbang Insurance Group bought the Waldorf Astoria Hotel
for nearly two billion dollars!
And even though no officials are publicly accusing the Chinese governments,
"The State Department and now the White House no longer sending its people to the Waldorf
because a concern about Chinese espionage."
So instead, Obama stayed at One UN New York near the United Nations.
I mean, C'mon! How hard is it to sweep for bugs?
James Bond has been doing it since the 60s.
But while a Chinese company buying a US hotel may be a big enough security threat
to keep the U.S. President away,
it's probably fine for a us average folk stay there
though 1% who can afford it that is.
I mean, the Chinese military has probably already hacked your computer by now
so what's a little wiretapping between friends, right?
So what do you think?
Is the White House overreacting to a Chinese company buying U.S. hotel
or, does this pose a real threat?
Leave your comments below and be sure to subscribe for more episodes of China Uncensored.
Once again, I'm Chris Chappell. See you next time!