Two US Sailors Indicted for Taking Bribes from China, Sharing Sensitive Military Info
LOS ANGELES — Two US sailors have been arrested and indicted on charges of accepting bribes in exchange for disclosing sensitive military information to Chinese intelligence officers. The arrests were announced by federal authorities on Thursday.
The accused sailors, Jinchao Wei, aged 22, and Wenheng Zhao, aged 26, are naturalized American citizens originally from China. They were allegedly in direct contact with Chinese officers who paid them thousands of dollars in bribes for access to national defense information, including technical manuals on assault ships, critical technology, and radar systems.
The U.S. attorney’s offices in Los Angeles and San Diego reported that both sailors were communicating with Chinese intelligence officers, although it is unclear if they were in contact with the same officer. Zhao is a resident of Monterey Park.
These individuals stand accused of violating the commitments they made to protect the United States and betraying the public trust, to the benefit of the People’s Republic of China government, stated Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen of the Justice Department’s national security division during a news conference.
The FBI’s counterintelligence division also issued a statement alongside the indictment announcement, emphasizing the relentless and aggressive efforts of the People’s Republic of China to undermine the US democracy and threaten those who defend it.
Wei, also known as Patrick, was stationed on the USS Essex in San Diego. He was apprehended at the naval base where he worked, accused of transmitting information to a Chinese official through encrypted channels. Prosecutors allege that Wei provided technical and mechanical manuals detailing various systems on the Essex and similar ships, including power, steering, aircraft, and deck elevators. The Chinese officer confirmed the usefulness of at least 10 documents and allegedly paid Wei $5,000 for the information. Wei continued sending additional documents and photographs describing the ship’s layout and the location of certain departments.
According to the Justice Department, Wei knowingly violated the International Traffic in Arms Regulations by transmitting a technical manual without the necessary license. Court documents reveal that Wei was approached by a Chinese intelligence officer while his US citizenship application was pending. Despite being aware that his activities would be viewed as spying and could impact his citizenship application, Wei did not report the offer.
In a separate investigation, Zhao, also known as Thomas, was arrested in connection with similar charges. Based out of Naval Base Ventura County in Port Hueneme, Zhao is accused of recording and sharing the specific location and timing of naval force movements, amphibious landings, maritime operations, and logistics support. Prosecutors claim that Zhao received bribes in Chinese currency, including a year-end bonus, from November 2021 through March. He is also suspected of photographing radar systems in Okinawa, Japan, as well as on the naval base in Ventura County and San Clemente Island.
Zhao worked as a construction electrician and had access to unclassified information and details on the Navy’s operational security but was not allowed to transmit such information and was required to report any suspicious incidents involving non-Navy personnel seeking sensitive information. Court documents state that he had a security clearance allowing access to material up to the secret level.
The US Attorney Martin Estrada condemned Zhao’s actions, stating that he had betrayed his country and colleagues by selling out sensitive military information to a hostile foreign state.
The Department of Justice will continue to use every tool in our arsenal to counter threats from China and to deter those who aid them in breaking our laws and threatening our national security, stated Olsen.
During the news conference, FBI special agent Stacey Moy clarified that the announcement does not target individuals based on their national origin or ethnicity but is solely focused on individuals engaged in criminal activity and violating the rule of law.
Bryce Miller, an agent with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, expressed concern over the impact of the sailors’ actions on Navy readiness and capabilities.
The indictment of the two US sailors highlights the ongoing challenges posed by foreign intelligence services seeking to gather classified information. It underscores the importance of safeguarding sensitive military data and the consequences individuals face when trading national security for personal gain. Efforts to counter such threats and protect the country’s democracy continue to be at the forefront of national security priorities.
