In a disturbing breach of national security, three U.S. Army soldiers—two active-duty and one former—were arrested on Thursday for allegedly selling sensitive military documents and information to buyers in China. The Department of Justice announced that Li Tian and Ruoyu Duan were charged in Oregon with “conspiring to commit bribery and theft of government property,” while Jian Zhao, a former active-duty sergeant stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington, was charged with similar crimes along with “conspiring to obtain and transmit national defense information to an individual not authorized to receive it.”
U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi condemned the actions of the defendants, stating, “The defendants arrested today are accused of betraying our country, actively working to weaken America’s defense capabilities and empowering our adversaries in China. They will face swift, severe, and comprehensive justice.”
According to an indictment filed in the Western District of Washington, Zhao began conspiring in July 2024 to transmit highly classified military information, including hard drives marked “Secret” and “Top Secret,” to Chinese buyers. This information related to an artillery missile system and U.S. military readiness for a potential conflict with China. Zhao allegedly received at least $15,000 in exchange for the military secrets, including the sale of an encrypted government computer and sensitive military documents. Zhao’s charges were made public in the Justice Department’s release, though the identities of the Chinese recipients remain unclear.
Meanwhile, Tian and Duan collaborated between November 2021 and December 2024 to gather technical manuals and data on U.S. Army operations, including information on military weapon systems such as the Bradley and Stryker armored vehicles. Tian, who was stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord alongside Zhao, sent the classified information to Duan, who served in the Army from 2013 to 2017. Their actions also constituted a significant national security breach, and both were charged with conspiring to steal and transmit sensitive military information to China.
FBI Director Kash Patel expressed outrage at the betrayal, stating, “While bribery and corruption have thrived under China’s Communist Party, this behavior cannot be tolerated with our service members who are entrusted with sensitive military information, including national defense information.” Patel further emphasized that the FBI, alongside U.S. Army Counterintelligence, would continue to investigate such breaches and hold those responsible accountable.
The arrests of these soldiers are part of an alarming trend of U.S. service members and intelligence officials leaking sensitive information. Earlier this year, a National Guardsman from Massachusetts was arrested for posting classified military documents on the messaging app Discord, and in November, a CIA official was arrested for leaking intelligence about Israel’s planned airstrike on Iran, which delayed the operation and compromised U.S. intelligence.
These arrests come amid escalating tensions between the U.S. and China, particularly after President Donald Trump imposed a 20 percent tariff on Chinese imports earlier this week, provoking retaliatory tariffs from Beijing. The timing of the leaks raises serious concerns about the security of U.S. military information and the growing threat of espionage.
As the investigation continues, these arrests serve as a stark reminder of the risks posed by insider threats and the importance of safeguarding sensitive national defense information from foreign adversaries. The actions of these soldiers have not only endangered U.S. military operations but also betrayed the trust placed in them to protect the nation’s security.
As the investigation continues, these arrests serve as a stark reminder of the risks posed by insider threats and the importance of safeguarding sensitive national defense information from foreign adversaries. The actions of these soldiers have not only endangered U.S. military operations but also betrayed the trust placed in them to protect the nation’s security.
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Whether it’s these guys, balloons flying over our sensitive military bases or U of M Chinese students surveilling and photographing military installations in Michigan it is way beyond t8me we realize we are under attack.
They should be executed.
Treason!
What’s the surprise here? Has everybody forgotten Bradley Manning, Edward Snowden, Robert Hansen, Ames, the Walker clan, Seth Rich, among others? They were all insiders. It should be easier to catch them now because all the info is electronic, and algorithms can/could bedeveloped to discover abnormal activities. Maybe the best defense is to really hammer the ones who get caught; espionage is/can be a capital offense.