The Associated Press (“AP News”) is reporting that two California-based United States (“US”) Navy sailors were separately charged today with providing sensitive military information to China. Both men pleaded not guilty. Their detention hearings are scheduled for August 6, 2023.
Jinchao Wei (22), who was born in China, is assigned to the San Diego-based USS Essex and was arrested August 2, 2023 while boarding the ship. He is accused of working with a Chinese intelligence agent, and passing detailed information on the weapons systems and aircraft aboard the USS Essex and other ships. He is also accused of providing as many as 50 manuals of technical or mechanical data about US Navy ships.
Wenheng Zhao (26), who is also known as Thomas Zhao, is assigned to Naval Base Ventura County, located near San Diego, California. He is accused of conspiring to collect nearly $15,000 in bribes from a Chinese intelligence officer in exchange for US naval exercise plans, operational orders, and photographs and videos of electrical systems at US Navy facilities, including the electrical diagrams and blueprints for a radar system in Okinawa, Japan.
The AP News article may be read HERE.
REUTERS is also reporting in this matter. The REUTERS article may be read HERE.
Proverbs 14:5 (NKJV)
“A faithful witness does not lie, [b]ut a false witness will utter lies.”
Proverbs 19:5 (NKJV)
“A false witness will not go unpunished, [a]nd he who speaks lies will not escape.”
