U.S. Soldiers Arrested for Allegedly Leaking Classified Missile Data to China

U.S. Soldiers Arrested for Allegedly Leaking Military Secrets to China

Two active-duty U.S. soldiers stationed in Washington state and a former soldier in Oregon were arrested on Thursday for allegedly passing classified military information, including weapons documents and hard drives, to contacts in China. According to federal court documents unsealed on Wednesday and Thursday, the illicit activity continued as recently as December.

Details of the Allegations

Sgt. Jian Zhao, stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in western Washington, is accused of handing over approximately 20 government hard drives—some marked “secret”—along with military documents detailing missile-launcher technology and U.S. military exercises in the Indo-Pacific region.

In a separate indictment, 1st Lt. Li Tian, also stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, allegedly conspired with former U.S. soldier Ruoyu Duan to steal military secrets. Prosecutors in Oregon claim that Tian gathered sensitive data on U.S. weapons systems, including Bradley and Stryker armored vehicles, and sold it to Duan, who then received payments from unidentified individuals in China.

The indictment further alleges that Duan routinely made payments to other security clearance holders and active-duty military personnel, though only Tian and Zhao have been formally indicted so far.

Government Response and Charges

While the final recipients of the stolen information remain unnamed, officials from the Attorney General’s office and the FBI have linked the thefts to Beijing.

“The defendants arrested today are accused of betraying our country, actively working to weaken America’s defense capabilities and empowering our adversaries in China,” said Attorney General Pamela J. Bondi. “They will face swift, severe, and comprehensive justice.”

Tian and Duan have been charged with conspiracy to commit bribery and theft of government property, while Zhao faces those charges plus an additional count of conspiracy to obtain and transmit national defense information. Prosecutors believe other individuals may have been involved in the scheme, though their identities remain unknown.

Beijing’s Intelligence Efforts and FBI Investigation

The charges highlight a broader effort by Chinese intelligence to target U.S. military personnel with security clearances, often using financial incentives to extract sensitive information.

FBI Director Kash Patel vowed continued efforts to combat these threats. “While bribery and corruption have thrived under China’s Communist Party, this behavior cannot be tolerated among our service members who are entrusted with sensitive military information,” he stated.

Col. Jennifer J. Bocanegra, a public affairs officer for Joint Base Lewis-McChord, confirmed awareness of the indictments and expressed the base’s commitment to supporting the ongoing investigation.

Specifics of the Leaked Information

Although Zhao was not named in the Oregon indictment, court documents suggest he was connected to the scheme through Duan. Zhao allegedly mailed around 20 hard drives to a contact in China and offered missile-related data for sale, setting a price of $3,000 to $4,000 for information on HIMARS missile launch technology.

Prosecutors allege that Zhao also scanned classified documents on missile technology and U.S. military exercises in the Indo-Pacific, forwarding them to his contact in China. Some of these documents were marked “controlled unclassified information,” meaning they were not classified but required special handling.

Zhao, a battery supply sergeant responsible for overseeing over $55 million in military property, also allegedly offered to sell an encrypted U.S. military computer for $1,800.

Broader Context and Previous Cases

The FBI has repeatedly warned that Chinese intelligence agents are increasingly targeting active-duty service members and individuals with security clearances online.

“These arrests underscore the persistent and increasing foreign intelligence threat facing our Army and nation,” said Army Counterintelligence Command Brig. Gen. Rhett R. Cox.

This case is part of a broader pattern of espionage activity linked to China. Earlier this week, the Justice Department announced charges against 12 Chinese citizens involved in a hacking-for-hire network that stole data from U.S. agencies. In 2023, two U.S. Navy officers in California were charged for allegedly passing classified naval ship information to Chinese intelligence.

Additionally, last year, former Joint Base Lewis-McChord service member Joseph D. Schmidt was charged with attempting to sell sensitive U.S. military intelligence to Chinese authorities. After nine months in a federal psychiatric facility, he was recently deemed competent to stand trial.

Public Reaction

Readers have expressed strong concerns about national security and the motivations behind the alleged espionage. Many have highlighted the growing risk of foreign intelligence threats targeting U.S. military personnel.

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army soldiers