Three individuals, including two active-duty U.S. Army soldiers and a former soldier, have reportedly been arrested for allegedly conspiring to share national defense information with China.
The Justice Department announced the charges against Jian Zhao and Li Tian, both stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington, along with former soldier Ruoyu Duan.
The soldiers are accused of stealing sensitive military secrets, including hard drives containing top-secret information, documents related to missile defenses, and data on U.S. weapon systems.
Attorney General Pam Bondi stated that these actions represent a betrayal of the country and could weaken America’s defense capabilities, emphasizing that those involved will face severe consequences.
Duan and Tian were charged in Oregon with conspiracy to commit bribery and theft of government property, while Zhao faced similar charges in Washington for attempting to transmit national defense information.
The indictment details that the conspiracy began in late November 2021, with activities continuing until December 2024.
Duan allegedly paid Tian to acquire information on specific U.S. Army vehicles, while Zhao is accused of selling hard drives labeled as “SECRET” and “TOP SECRET” to Chinese individuals for at least $10,000.
FBI Director Kash Patel highlighted the seriousness of these actions, noting that such corruption cannot be tolerated among service members entrusted with sensitive information.
“While bribery and corruption have thrived under China’s Communist Party, this behavior cannot be tolerated with our service members who are entrusted with sensitive military information, including national defense information. The FBI and our partners will continue to work to uncover attempts by those in China to steal sensitive U.S. military information and hold all accountable who play a role in betraying our national defense.” Patel said.
Brigadier General Rhett Cox of Army Counterintelligence Command added that these arrests underscore the ongoing foreign intelligence threats faced by the military and the commitment of law enforcement to uphold national security.
The investigation continues as authorities strive to prevent further breaches of military information.
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