Two U.S. Navy sailors were charged on Thursday by the AP (SAN DIEGO) for providing China with sensitive military information, including details on wartime exercises, naval operations, and critical technical material.
During a press conference in San Diego, federal officials refrained from providing specific details on whether there was any connection between the cases. Although both individuals were associated with the same Chinese intelligence officer as part of a broader plan, it remains uncertain whether they were courted or compensated. The two sailors, who were stationed in California, faced charges related to sharing sensitive intelligence with China.
Both individuals entered pleas of innocence in federal courts located in San Diego and Los Angeles. They have been instructed to remain in custody until their detention hearings, which are scheduled to occur on August 8th in those identical cities.
U.S. Officials have expressed concern about the threat of Chinese government espionage, saying that criminal cases in recent years involving intelligence operatives from Beijing who have illegally hacked sensitive commercial and government information are posing a significant risk.
Discord, a widely used social media platform among individuals engaging in online gaming, is now facing charges related to the leaking of classified military documents on sensitive national security matters and Ukraine’s conflict with Russia. These charges are in addition to another prosecution case that involves insider threats within the Massachusetts Air National Guard, which was arrested by the U.S. Department of Justice in April.
American officials stated that these instances demonstrate China’s audacity in attempting to acquire knowledge about American military operations.
“By means of the purported offenses carried out by these defendants, classified military data ultimately fell into the possession of the People’s Republic of China,” expressed Matt Olsen, the assistant attorney general for national security at the Department of Justice. He further stated that these allegations showcase the Chinese government’s “resolve to acquire crucial intelligence for our country’s defense through any possible method, enabling them to exploit it to their benefit.”
Jinchao Wei, a 22-year-old sailor assigned to the USS Essex, based in San Diego, was apprehended on Wednesday while attempting to board the ship. He stands accused of divulging intricate data concerning the weaponry and aircraft present on the Essex, as well as other amphibious assault vessels functioning as compact aircraft carriers.
Prosecutors said that Wei, a Chinese intelligence officer who approached a U.S. Citizen in February 2022 while he was applying to become a naturalized citizen, admitted to the officer that he knew his arrangement could even affect his application, as he provided videos and photographs of the USS Essex, including an array of helicopters, unsealed on Thursday.
Wei’s indictment alleges that there are approximately 50 manuals containing mechanical and technical data about Navy ships, as well as details about the upcoming exercise during Marines’ training.
According to Randy Grossman, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California, Wei made the decision to betray the country he recently became a citizen of, whether motivated by greed or some other factor. The Chinese officer even expressed congratulations when Wei gained U.S. Citizenship, yet Wei persisted in sharing confidential data on multiple occasions throughout a year.
Wei was charged by the Justice Department under a seldom-utilized Espionage Act provision that criminalizes the collection or transmission of information to assist a foreign government.
Upon hearing the charges, Wei did not display any visible reaction. After the hearing, a different public defender was appointed to Wei, who opted not to provide any comments following his plea of not guilty in San Diego.
The Assistant U.S. Attorney, Fred Sheppard, told the judge that Patrick Wei, a fellow sailor, was recruited for espionage. He also mentioned that Wei had recently passed Chinese intelligence information, as Wei himself had told him two days ago.
Sheppard said that the agreement has generated a sum of $10,000 to $15,000 in the previous year from Wei. If found guilty, he could potentially be sentenced to life imprisonment.
As per authorities, the policeman instructed Wei to hide their association and eradicate evidence to aid them in concealing their deeds.
Zhao Wenheng, a sailor based at Naval Base Ventura County in north Los Angeles, has also been charged by the Department of Justice for conspiring with a Chinese intelligence officer to collect nearly $15,000 in bribes in exchange for sharing videos, photos, and information related to Navy exercises and operations taking place between May and August 2021.
According to the accusation, the data was required for maritime economic analysis to advise investment choices, as stated by the Chinese officer to Zhao. The specifics regarding the whereabouts and schedule of naval force operations, encompassing comprehensive information about the whereabouts and schedule of naval force operations, also contained strategies for a substantial U.S. Military drill in the Indo-Pacific area.
The federal public defender assigned to Zhao, who pleaded not guilty in Los Angeles, could not be reached by The Associated Press.
Zhao, who is further indicted, alleges that he photographed electrical blueprints and diagrams for a radar system stationed on a U.S. Military base in Okinawa, Japan.
Prosecutors say that Zhao, who also went by the name Thomas, could face a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison if convicted. They also allege that he surreptitiously recorded information that was handed over.
It was uncertain whether federal authorities were investigating other American sailors.
At the Pentagon, General Brigadier Ryder Pat informed reporters that he believes it is important to have clear policies and procedures in place when it comes to protecting and safeguarding sensitive information and taking appropriate action if those rules are violated.
Olsen said that “China stands apart in terms of the threat its government poses to the United States, reflecting charges that its efforts to subvert our laws are maligned and its audacity is unrivaled.”
He added that the U.S. Will use every tool in our arsenal to counter the threat and deter China, who pose a threat to our national security and threaten the rule of law.