2 US Navy sailors charged with providing sensitive military information to China

By JULIE WATSON and LOLITA C. BALDOR
Associated Press

SAN DIEGO (AP) — U.S. officials say two Navy sailors have been arrested on charges related to national security and ties to China. Federal officials said at a news conference Thursday that 22-year-old sailor Jinchao Wei was arrested on a charge related to espionage involving conspiracy to send national defense information to Chinese officials. The indictment says Wei made contact with a Chinese government intelligence officer in February 2022 and provided photographs and videos of US Navy ships. A second Navy service member, Wenheng Zhao, was charged in federal court in Los Angeles with collecting bribes in exchange for giving sensitive U.S. military photos and videos to a Chinese intelligence officer. Both sailors pleaded not guilty.