Two Navy sailors in Southern California were arrested and accused of providing military secrets and sensitive information to Chinese intelligence officers, according to a pair of federal indictments unsealed on Thursday.
Jinchao Wei, known as Patrick Wei, 22, was charged with spying for the Chinese under the Espionage Act.
As a machinist’s mate, investigators said, he had clearance that gave him access to sensitive national security information.
Already, the extent of Chinese spying, including cyberbreaches, has prompted top national security officials to sound the alarm.
director, Christopher A. Wray, warned, “There’s no country that presents a more significant threat to our innovation, our ideas our economic security, our national security than the Chinese government.”
Persons:
Jinchao Wei, Patrick Wei, Wei, Wenheng Zhao, Thomas, Zhao, Christopher A, Wray, “, ”
Organizations:
Naval Base San, Pacific Fleet, Naval Base
Locations:
Southern California, Essex, Naval Base San Diego, Naval Base Ventura County, Port Hueneme, Pacific, China