The U.S. Department of Justice has alleged that two U.S. Navy sailors were involved in national security violations relating to China and have since been arrested.
The first sailor, a 22-year-old, was arrested on charges of espionage in relation to a purported conspiracy to share intelligence with a Chinese official. The second sailor, based near Los Angeles, faces charges of conspiracy and receipt of bribe from a Chinese official. No names have yet been released.
The Department of Justice spoke on the alleged violations on Thursday, saying that in the first case out of the central district, the defendant is “charged with conspiring with a PRC intelligence officer to collect and transmit sensitive military information about naval operations.” The second case from the southern district sees the defendant charged for espionage and for export control violations, wherein 50 manuals and documents containing “technical and mechanical data about naval amphibious assault ships” were allegedly collected and shared.
“In the first case out of the central district, the defendant, a petty officer who served as a construction engineer, is charged with conspiring with a PRC intelligence officer to collect and transmit sensitive military information about naval operations,” a spokesman said during a press briefing.
“The defendant allegedly accepted bribes and gave the PRC intelligence officer photographs and videos of military exercise plans, operational orders and electrical systems,” he added.
“In the second case, out of the southern district, the defendant faces charges for espionage and for violating our export control laws, for collecting and transmitting sensitive national defense information at the direction of a PRC intelligence officer,” the spokesman continued.
“As tasked by the intelligence officer, the defendant allegedly transmitted or attempted to transmit more than 50 manuals and other documents containing technical and mechanical data about naval amphibious assault ships. Several of these materials were allegedly marked with export control warnings and contained details about the power structure, weapons systems and damage control aboard those ships,” concluded the spokesman.
The Department of Justice has stated that China “stands apart” from other countries in posing a significant threat to the national security of the U.S. They alleged that China’s malicious activities when attempting to subvert U.S. laws are “unrivaled in the audacity and the range” of its operations.
Currently, there is no further information surrounding the identities of the two sailors, or any details about the further extent of their intentions. Investigation surrounding the case is ongoing and prosecutors will pursue the alleged violations to the full extent of the law.
