Two US Navy sailors have been arrested on suspicion of leaking sensitive information to China in exchange for money. This was announced by the US Department of Justice on Thursday. Both men are Chinese-born and naturalized citizens of the United States.
Jinzhao Wei, 22, who was stationed aboard the USS Essex in San Diego, was charged with espionage. He is said to have contacted a Chinese intelligence agent in February 2022, who asked him to pass on information about the amphibious assault ship. In exchange for “thousands of dollars,” the sailor passed photos, dozens of technical and mechanical manuals, locations of U.S. ships and descriptions of weapons systems to the Chinese since March 2022, prosecutors said.
In addition, 26-year-old Wening Zhao, who worked at the naval base in Port Hueneme near Los Angeles (California), was charged with conspiracy and receiving bribes. Between August 2021 and May 2023, he provided recordings, photographs, and military information to someone who posed as a naval economic researcher, but was actually a Chinese spy. According to the Ministry of Justice, he received approximately 15,000 dollars (about 13,700 euros) for this.
“The charges demonstrate China’s determination to obtain information critical to our national defense that they can use for their own benefit through any means necessary,” Matthew Olsen, head of the US Department of Justice’s National Security Division, said Thursday at a press conference.
A spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in Washington said no conclusions should be drawn on the issue too early. “In recent years, the US government and the media have repeatedly blown up ‘espionage cases’ that were linked to China, but were later found to be unfounded. China strongly objects to America’s smear of China.
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