Three Chinese-American U.S. Military Members Arrested for Allegedly Stealing Secrets and Selling to the CCP

On August 12, 2024, the headquarters of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in Washington, D.C. (Madalina Vasiliu/Dajiyuan)

[People News] On Thursday (6th), the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) arrested three current and former military personnel suspected of stealing national defense secrets and military intelligence. One of them allegedly sold the information to buyers inside China, receiving at least $15,000 in payment.

According to reports from Agence France-Presse (AFP) and CNN, the two active-duty Army personnel arrested are Supply Sergeant Jian Zhao (音譯) and Medical Services Administrator Tian Li (音譯), both stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) in Washington State. The third suspect, former soldier Ruoyu Duan (音譯), who served from 2013 to 2017, is from Oregon. Tian Li and Ruoyu Duan have been charged with conspiracy to commit bribery and theft of government property. In addition to these charges, Jian Zhao is also accused of conspiring with others to obtain and transmit classified national defense information to unauthorized individuals.

Selling Nearly 20 Confidential Hard Drives

The Army Supply Sergeant is primarily responsible for managing troop supplies, equipment maintenance, and the distribution of logistics. According to the indictment, Zhao Jian (趙堅) oversaw military supplies valued at over $55 million and sold nearly 20 hard drives labeled 'Secret' and 'Top Secret' to buyers from the Chinese Communist Party. He also sold sensitive military documents and information related to the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS). Since August 2024, he has received at least $15,000 in illegal earnings.

Another indictment filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon reveals that Li Tian (李天) and Duan Ruoyu (段若宇) conspired to steal and transmit sensitive information about the operational capabilities of the U.S. Army from November 2021 to December 19, 2024. This included technical manuals and other materials. Li Tian also provided Duan Ruoyu with a Google Drive link containing information about U.S. military vehicles such as the 'Bradley' and 'Stryker', for which he received an undisclosed amount of compensation.

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi (邦迪) stated in a press release: 'The individuals arrested have betrayed our country, worked to undermine America's defense capabilities, and assisted our enemies in the Chinese Communist Party. They will face swift, severe, and comprehensive judicial prosecution.'

(Source: Radio Free Asia)