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The FBI has apprehended three suspects for the allegation of selling US secrets to people from China. The FBI reports that two of the soldiers are still serving and one of them is a veteran.

Military Secrets Sale to China

Zhao Jian and Li Tian, both active-duty soldiers of the United States Army, under the charge of the Joint Base Lewis-McChord, along with Ruoyu Duan, are former soldiers, were arrested on Thursday.

In Zhao's case, the prosecution claimed he was in possession of classified government materials such as hard drives and computers which he openly marketed to Chinese interests. On top of that, Tian and Duan were charged for conspiring to Bribery and Theft of Government Property.

Selling US Military Confidential data for the price of $15,000

According to the Justice Department, the thefts spanned July 2024 and required Zhao's participation of at least $15,000.

The Prosecutor’s indictment of the case reads that “X” charged compatriots, with the clear understanding that the action was unlawful; (that is why the “accomplices” would be considered as “co-conspirators”) and “acquiesced unlawfully” organized…secured access to documents that can bind the defence of the United States and hand them to no authorized third parties”.

It is alleged that from November 2021 to December 2024, Tian would procure sensitive military information on operational capabilities of the US Army’s weapon systems and sell it to Duan for an undisclosed amount.  

What the FBI Director said  

“They have been charged with stealing America’s defense intelligence capabilities and betraying our country by empowering adversaries like China, only to face American justice,” Kash Patel, the newly inaugurated FBI Director, stated on X.


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US soldiers arrested military secrets China espionage active duty soldiers US national security military information leak