On Monday, a U.S. Navy sailor received a 27-month prison sentence for engaging in bribery with a Chinese intelligence operative, providing them with photos of unclassified but sensitive U.S. military data. In return, Petty Officer Wenheng “Thomas” Zhao, 26, received nearly $15,000.
Zhao, who was stationed at Naval Base Ventura County in California, confessed to sending plans for U.S. military exercises in the Indo-Pacific, operational orders, and technical details of a radar system located on a U.S. base in Okinawa, Japan. His guilty plea to conspiracy and bribery charges last October could have led to a maximum of 20 years imprisonment, but he also faced a $5,500 fine, as reported by the U.S. Department of Justice.
Larissa Knapp, the FBI’s National Security Branch Executive Assistant Director, condemned Zhao’s actions as a betrayal of his oath to the United States, emphasizing the risks his actions posed. She noted that this case underscores the ineffectiveness of China’s intelligence efforts in evading detection and prosecution by the FBI and its partners.
The U.S. has frequently accused China of engaging in widespread espionage and cyberattacks, allegations Beijing consistently denies.
In response to the situation, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning expressed unfamiliarity with the specifics of Zhao’s case. During a regular press briefing on Tuesday, she pointed out the contradiction in the U.S. stance, accusing it of spreading false claims about Chinese espionage while openly admitting to intensifying its own espionage activities against China.
Bilateral relations between the U.S. and China have been strained on several fronts, including national security, trade restrictions, the COVID-19 pandemic, and issues surrounding Taiwan. However, a summit in San Francisco in November between Presidents Xi Jinping of China and Joe Biden of the U.S. was perceived as a step towards easing these tensions.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, speaking at a symposium in Beijing on Tuesday, acknowledged the significant challenges faced by China-U.S. relations at the start of 2023. He highlighted that through concerted efforts, the two nations have managed to reestablish communication and dialogue, leading to a stabilization of their relationship after a period of deterioration.
