The Department of Justice announced on Thursday that two active-duty U.S. Army soldiers and one former U.S. Army soldier were arrested and charged for allegedly selling secret military information to China.
In a press release, the Department of Justice said active-duty U.S. Army soldiers Jian Zhao and Li Tian, who were stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, were arrested Thursday along with Ruoyu Duan, a former U.S. Army soldier.
According to the press release, Tian and Duan were both charged in the District of Oregon for conspiring to commit bribery and theft of government property, while Zhao was charged in the Western District of Washington for conspiring to obtain and transmit national defense information to an individual not authorized to receive the information, for theft of government property, and for bribery.
“The defendants arrested today are accused of betraying our country, actively working to weaken America’s defense capabilities and empowering our adversaries in China,” Attorney General Pam Bondi said. “They will face swift, severe, and comprehensive justice.”
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel said that while “bribery and corruption have thrived” under the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party, “this behavior cannot be tolerated with our service members who are entrusted with sensitive military information, including national defense information.”
Patel added that the FBI would work with other law enforcement partners to uncover any Chinese attempts to “steal sensitive U.S. military information” and to “hold all accountable who play a role in betraying our national defense.”
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The Department of Justice claimed that Duan and Tian worked together from November 28, 2021, to at least December 19, 2024, to “surreptitiously gather sensitive military information related to the United States Army’s operational capabilities, including technical manuals and other sensitive information.” The information gathered by Duan and Tian was related to U.S. military weapon systems, including information on both the Stryker and Bradley fighting vehicles.
Additionally, the Department of Justice claimed that Zhao, who is an active-duty Army supply sergeant, started obtaining national defense information and sending it to individuals in China in July of 2024.
“Specifically, Zhao was charged for his conspiracy to collect and transmit several classified hard drives, including hard drives marked ‘SECRET’ and ‘TOP SECRET,’ negotiating with individuals based in China for their sale, and agreeing to send the classified hard drives to the individuals in China,” the Department of Justice stated, adding that the Army soldier had allegedly been paid at least $10,000 for the classified hard drives.
Additionally, the Justice Department accused Zhao of conspiring to sell an “encryption capable computer” and “sensitive U.S. military documents and information” regarding the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System and the U.S. military’s preparations for a potential conflict with China.
Source: American Military News