11-10-2023 (LOS ANGELES) A US Navy petty officer, Wenheng Zhao, has pleaded guilty to the grave charge of providing sensitive military information to a Chinese intelligence officer, as disclosed by the Justice Department on Tuesday, October 10.
This startling revelation comes following the arrest of Zhao, aged 26, and another US sailor, Jinchao Wei, in August, on the grounds of espionage on behalf of China. The Justice Department, in a statement, confirmed that Zhao entered a guilty plea in a federal court in California, facing charges of conspiring with a foreign intelligence officer and accepting a bribe.
The penalties for Zhao’s actions could be severe, with potential imprisonment of up to five years for conspiracy and a maximum sentence of 15 years for bribery. The sentencing for this case has been scheduled for January 8, marking a pivotal moment in the trial.
The allegations brought against Zhao are profoundly disturbing. US officials claim that while stationed at a naval base north of Los Angeles, he received a staggering sum of nearly US$15,000 from the Chinese intelligence officer during the period spanning from August 2021 to May 2023. In exchange for these illicit funds, Zhao compromised the security of the US Navy by divulging confidential information related to operational security, military exercises, and critical infrastructure.
Specifically, Zhao provided the Chinese intelligence officer with sensitive data concerning a substantial maritime training exercise in the Pacific region. Furthermore, he shared electrical diagrams and blueprints pertaining to a radar system located in Okinawa, Japan. These actions have raised alarming concerns about the potential national security threats that could result from such leaks of sensitive military information.
Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen stated, “The intelligence services of the People’s Republic of China actively target (security) clearance holders across the military, seeking to entice them with money to provide sensitive government information.” Olsen also emphasized that when approached by his co-conspirator, Zhao, rather than reporting the situation to the Navy, prioritized personal gain over safeguarding the national security interests of the United States.
In addition to Wenheng Zhao, Jinchao Wei, who served on the amphibious assault ship USS Essex, faces accusations of transferring numerous documents, photographs, and videos to Chinese intelligence, which meticulously detailed the operations of various ships and their systems. These allegations, combined with Zhao’s actions, serve as a stark reminder of the ongoing threats posed by foreign espionage activities targeting the US military.
The alarming situation is not isolated, as recent events indicate a concerning trend. Just last week, a former US Army sergeant, Joseph Schmidt, aged 29, was apprehended for his attempts to provide classified information to China. Schmidt had served in an army intelligence unit from 2015 until 2020 and now faces charges of retaining national defense information and trying to deliver it to China.
