Two Taiwanese nationals charged with trying to smuggle U.S. military hardware to China have made their first court appearance.

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Hui Sheng Shen and Huan Ling Chang have been jailed since early March after being arrested and charged with selling a kilogram of methamphetamine to undercover agents.

In new charges announced Wednesday, they're accused of conspiring to purchase drones, stealth technology and anti-aircraft systems on behalf of buyers they said were connected to the Chinese government.

Both appeared in federal court in Newark, N.J., but didn't enter pleas. They face up to five years for violating arms export laws and up to life in prison for two drug counts.

Their attorneys declined to comment.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

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