According to specialists, two US Navy sailors have been detained in California on suspicion of giving China delicate defense information.
A naturalized US resident named Jinchao Wei, 22, is charged with plotting to deliver national defense information to a Chinese agent.
Wenheng Zhao, a 26-year-old next seaman, was detained on suspicion of accepting payment for private images and videos.
Whether the two people were contacted by the same Chinese representative is unclear.
On Thursday, the charges were made public at a press event in San Diego.
They claimed Mr. Wei had access to sensitive information about the amphibious assault ship USS Essex because he held a security certification.
He reportedly received an approach from a Chinese representative in February 2022 as he was undergoing the application process for US citizenship.
According to the indictment, the agent paid Mr. Wei, who also goes by the name Patrick, thousands of dollars for pictures, videos, technical books, and deliver designs.
According to Justice Department officials, Mr. Wei also provided the agent with information about US Marines who were participating in a marine training exercise.
According to US Attorney Randy Grossman,” when a man or sailor chooses money over nation and hands over national defense information in an final act of betrayal, we have to get ready to act.”
Mr. Zhao, who goes by the name Thomas Zhao as well, was employed by Naval Base Ventura County, which is close to Los Angeles. He reportedly received an approach in 2021 from a Chinese broker who pretended to be researching for investment decisions.
According to authorities, the agent paid Mr. Zhao close to$ 15, 000 (£ 11, 800 ) for images and videos, as well as diagrams and blueprints for a radar system stationed on an American military base in Okinawa, Japan.
If found guilty, Mr. Wei faces a 20-year prison term, whereas the claims against Mrs. Zhao can result in sentences of up to 20 times.
Individual charges were brought against the two people. Whether both were contacted by the same Taiwanese agent was not disclosed by officers.
Officials described the alleged spy as a part of China’s coordinated effort to learn US military strategies.
Relations between the two nations were strained by a Chinese spy balloon that flew over the US earlier this year, but British government eventually claimed that it didn’t gather any sensitive data.
According to Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen,” The Department of Justice will continue to employ every resource at our disposal to counter threats from China and to discourage those who aid them in breaking our rules and endangering our national safety.”
It was unclear if Mr. Wei or M. Zhao had retained legal counsel who may make legal arguments on their behalf.
