U.S. Army Soldiers Charged with Espionage in Connection with China
Two U.S. Army soldiers and one former soldier were arrested for allegedly selling classified military information to conspirators in China. Ruoyo Duan and 1st Lt. Li Tian were charged with conspiracy to commit bribery and theft, while Jian Zhao faced additional charges related to transmitting national defense information. Their actions raise significant concerns over national security and military integrity.
On Thursday, two active-duty U.S. Army soldiers and one former soldier were arrested for allegedly selling classified information to Chinese conspirators. Ruoyo Duan, a military member from 2013 to 2017, and 1st Lt. Li Tian face charges of conspiracy to commit bribery and theft of government property, along with Jian Zhao, who also conspired to obtain and transmit national defense information unlawfully.
Both Tian and Zhao were stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord near Tacoma, as noted by federal grand jury indictments. From late 2021 to the end of 2024, Duan and Tian conspired to sell classified military information, including technical data. Prosecutors claim Tian sent documents to Duan, who then forwarded them overseas in exchange for compensation.
The Department of Justice highlighted that Tian was collecting information on U.S. military weapon systems, specifically focusing on the Bradley and Stryker vehicles. Zhao, responsible for the brigade’s supplies worth over 55 million dollars, began distributing sensitive materials in July 2024. Documents indicate he organized the shipment of numerous encrypted hard drives and military computers.
Further, Zhao is accused of sharing sensitive documents, including those related to weapon systems and military exercises involving conflict simulations with China. He once told a middleman that he had valuable materials that were “super difficult to get,” demanding a fair price for them.
Zhao allegedly settled on a price of $2,500 for a copy of sensitive information, urging his contact to consult others about pricing for additional materials. This case marks another instance of espionage targeting the Chinese government involving Joint Base Lewis-McChord, as evidenced by the indictment of Sgt. Joseph Daniel Schmidt in 2023 for similar offenses.
In summary, the arrest of two U.S. Army soldiers and a former soldier indicates serious breaches of national security through espionage activities aimed at selling classified military information to China. The ongoing investigations underline the critical importance of safeguarding sensitive national defense materials and maintaining stringent scrutiny over personnel in military capacities.
Original Source: therecord.media
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