US arrests Navy members for passing confidential information to China

Kathmandu: United States Navy has charged two active-duty members for handling military information to China.

Jinchao Wei (also known as Patrick, 26 years old), and Wenheng Zhao (Thomas, 26) are the accused Navy members.

The Assistant Attorney General for National Security at the Department of Justice Matt Olsen a Press Conference said, ‘ The charges demonstrate the PRC’s determination to obtain information that is critical to our national defense by any means, so it could be used to its advantage. The alleged conduct also represents a violation of the obligation of members of our military to defend this country, safeguard its secrets, and protect their fellow service members.’

The Department of Justice said that the members were gathering the information in different operations while being in the service of the US Navy.

The department accused Wei of gathering confidential military information about the Navy, including the blueprints of the ship, war fares, weapons, etc., and passing it on to a Chinese Intelligence Officer. It claimed Zhao of taking a bribe from a Chinese Intelligence Officer to act as an economic researcher for passing investment information.

Olsen made clear in the press statement that America would use every legal tool to counter the threat and deter the possible threat from China.