[jrochkind1]

How are you sure of this? I wouldn't be.

And you're saying it's somehow a different class of ethical conundrum to engage in espionage to kill people, or to engage in it for economic advantage, and killing people is more ethical?

I am not surprised the state-capitalist Chinese see it differently, and are okay with both.

[diminoten]

I'm about as sure of this as I am of unicorns not existing.

As to the ethical dilemma, I'm only noting a difference.

[jrochkind1]

Brazil is less sure. http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/09/nsa-spying-braz...

The NYT says it's a "fine line"

> But the government does not deny it routinely spies to advance American economic advantage, which is part of its broad definition of how it protects American national security. In short, the officials say, while the N.S.A. cannot spy on Airbus and give the results to Boeing, it is free to spy on European or Asian trade negotiators and use the results to help American trade officials — and, by extension, the American industries and workers they are trying to bolster.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/21/business/us-snooping-on-co...

[diminoten]

That's an editorial, so it's the view of one guy who works at the NYT, and not an all-that-well backed up view, to boot.

And I think fine lines are important lines.