Two US Navy Sailors Arrested For Sharing Sensitive Military Information

Two U.S. Navy Sailors have been arrested on charges of handing over sensitive National Security material to China, U.S. officials have said.

Petty Officer,  Wenheng Zhao, 26, was charged with conspiracy and bribe-taking in connection with taking nearly $15,000 in exchange for photographs and videos of sensitive U.S. military information, the officials said.

U.S. Navy sailor, Jinchao Wei, whose age was not disclosed, was charged with conspiring to send National Defense information to China in exchange for thousands of dollars.

Assistant Attorney General, Matt Olsen told reporters that “sensitive military information ended up in the hands of the People’s  Republic of China,” due to the actions of the Sailors.

Wei is accused of disclosing information about the USS Essex, an amphibious assault ship where he served, as well as other American warships, including dozens of technical manuals laying out the Essex’s weapons, power structure and operations.

Contact details for Wei and Zhao could not immediately be located.

U.S. Officials at the press conference condemned China’s espionage campaign.

“There is no bigger, multi-generational threat to the United States” than China, said FBI Special Agent Stacey Moy.

Beijing”will stop at nothing to attack the United States in its strategic plan to become the world’s sole superpower.”

The Chinese Embassy in Washington did not immediately return a message seeking comment on the allegations.

REUTERS/AISHA