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Two Navy Sailors Arrested for Spying and Providing Military Secrets to Chinese Intelligence Officers
Two Navy sailors in Southern California have been arrested and accused of providing military secrets and sensitive information to Chinese intelligence officers. The arrests came after a pair of federal indictments were unsealed on Thursday, revealing the extent of the alleged espionage.
Jinchao Wei, also known as Patrick Wei, a 22-year-old machinist’s mate serving aboard the amphibious assault ship Essex at Naval Base San Diego, has been charged with spying for the Chinese under the Espionage Act. Investigators stated that Mr. Wei had clearance that granted him access to sensitive national security information.
The second sailor, Petty Officer Wenheng Zhao, 26, also known as Thomas, was charged with taking bribes in exchange for providing sensitive U.S. military information to a Chinese intelligence officer posing as an economic researcher. Mr. Zhao worked at the Naval Base Ventura County in Port Hueneme, which houses several aircraft squadrons and the service’s naval construction battalions in the Pacific.
These charges highlight the Chinese government’s profound interest in the Navy’s Pacific Fleet and other aspects of the American military’s operations in the region. China’s persistent efforts to steal American corporate and national security secrets, including cyber breaches, have already raised concerns among top national security officials. FBI Director Christopher A. Wray warned earlier this year that the Chinese government poses a significant threat to American innovation, economic security, and national security.
Speaking at a news conference in San Diego, U.S. Attorney Randy S. Grossman highlighted the severity of the crime and the personal impact it has on the city with its rich naval history. Mr. Wei, who became a naturalized citizen, chose to betray his newly adopted country by failing to report inappropriate contact from a Chinese intelligence officer.
Prosecutors allege that Mr. Wei began working for the Chinese in early 2022, providing his handler with defense and weapons capabilities of U.S. warships, vulnerabilities, and other critical technology. He communicated with the intelligence officer through encrypted platforms. Mr. Wei also received a payment of $5,000 for providing 30 technical and mechanical ship manuals, some of which were deemed critical technology by the U.S. Navy.
The Justice Department emphasized the significance of warships like the Essex, stating that they serve as the cornerstone of the U.S. Navy’s amphibious readiness and expeditionary strike capabilities.
In the second indictment, Mr. Zhao, a Monterey Park native, has been accused of working at the direction of an unnamed Chinese intelligence officer from August 2021 through at least May this year. He allegedly provided the officer with sensitive details such as electrical diagrams and blueprints for a radar system stationed on a U.S. military base in Okinawa, Japan, as well as operational plans for a large-scale U.S. military exercise in the Indo-Pacific region.
While Mr. Zhao was not charged under the Espionage Act, he could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted, according to the Justice Department.
Both men were secretly earning thousands of dollars while working for the Chinese, prosecutors allege.
These arrests come amid ongoing concerns about Chinese national security threats. It is worth noting that the Justice Department ended a controversial initiative started under the Trump administration to combat Chinese threats, which some critics argued unfairly targeted professors of Asian descent and contributed to an increase in anti-Asian sentiment.
During the news conference, Stacey Moy, the top F.B.I. agent in San Diego, emphasized that the charges should not be seen as an indictment against the Chinese people or ethnically Chinese Americans.
Both men were expected to appear before federal judges in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles and San Diego on Thursday.
John Ismay contributed to this report.