https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/u...nese-ncntfzjqn
US navy sailors charged with selling defence secrets to Chinese
Two US navy sailors have been accused of selling sensitive military information to China, prosecutors in California said.
The suspects, whose cases are separate, are both alleged to have handed over national defence material to Chinese officials in exchange for thousands of dollars. The information the sailors are accused of selling includes details on naval operations, wartime exercises and critical technical material, according to federal prosecutors.
While the cases are separate, it is unclear if the accused had the same Chinese handler or if they were aware of each other’s actions.
Jinchao “Patrick” Wei, a 22-year-old petty officer 2nd class, was arrested on Wednesday and charged with espionage. He served as a machinist’s mate aboard the amphibious ship USS Essex, which is currently based in San Diego, officials said.
Wei, who was born in China, was approached by a Chinese intelligence officer while he was applying to become a naturalised US citizen, according to the indictment. He is alleged to have received $5,000 in June 2022 for passing sensitive documents to his handler.
Randy Grossman, US attorney of the southern district of California, said Wei “chose to turn his back on his newly adopted country” for greed.
Wenheng Zhao, a petty officer from Monterey Park, California, was also arrested on Wednesday, by agents from the FBI and Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS). The 26-year-old is charged with conspiracy and receipt of a bribe by a public official.
Zhao worked at Naval Base Ventura County in southern California and had access to classified information, officials said.
Zhao is alleged to have started working for the Chinese in August 2021 and to have passed on pictures and videos, as well as plans for US military exercises in the Pacific. He allegedly received $14,866 in payments from a Chinese intelligence officer.
Matthew Olsen, the Justice Department’s assistant attorney general for national security, said the alleged conduct “ represents a violation of the solemn obligation of members of our military to defend our country, to safeguard our secrets and to protect their fellow service members”.