U.S. Navy Sailors Jinchao Wei and Wenheng Zhao have been arrested and charged with espionage after accusations that they had been transmitting highly sensitive military information to the People’s Republic of China (PRC).
The arrests are a stark reminder of the importance of national security, and underscores why it is so crucial for the United States to maintain our commitment to securing our borders from foreign threats.
Jinchao Wei, aka Patrick Wei, was arrested Wednesday on espionage charges as he arrived for work at Naval Base San Diego, homeport of the Pacific Fleet.
According to an indictment unsealed on Thursday, Wei was a 22-year-old naturalized U.S citizen who held a security clearance and had access to sensitive national defense information concerning the ship’s weapons, propulsion, and desalination systems as a machinist’s mate onboard the U.S.S Essex stationed at Naval Base San Diego.
Between March 2022 and present day, Wei sent various photographs, videos and documents concerning U.S Navy ships in exchange for thousands of dollars in payment.
He also allegedly sent technical and mechanical manuals containing export control warnings which were considered “critical technology” by the U.S Navy throughout June August and October 2022.
He was instructed by Chinese intelligence officers to gather non-public US military information and destroy any evidence regarding their relationship – actions which could gain him up to 20 years of imprisonment if found guilty according to his indictment document.
Wenheng Zhao has also been charged with receiving bribes in exchange for transmitting sensitive US military information following his arrest on federal grand jury indictment..
During the time frame of August 2021 to May 2023, Zhao reportedly recorded then transmitted various photograph ,videos, operational plans specifically detailing locations, timings, amphibious landings, maritime operations as well blueprints relating specifically electrical diagrams and radar systems based near Okinawa Japan.
Zhao received bribes totaling approximately $15000 during this period.
