«Данное сообщение (материал) создано и (или) распространено иностранным средством массовой информации, выполняющим функции иностранного агента, и (или) российским юридическим лицом, выполняющим функции иностранного агента»
Topic: Espionage, and Naval Warfare Blog Brand: The Buzz Region: Americas Tags: China, Espionage, North America, Prison, United States, and US Navy A US Navy Sailor Who Spied for China Just Got 16 Years in Prison January 15, 2026 By: Peter Suciu
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The sailor, Jinchao “Patrick” Wei, hoped to gain employment with the Chinese government by passing secret US Navy manuals.
A United States Navy sailor likely wishes he hadn’t taken the advice from his mother—as, having done so, he will now spend at least 16 years in prison after being convicted of espionage by a federal jury in the Southern District of California last August.
Jinchao Wei, also known as Patrick Wei, was arrested in 2023 for providing classified details about the US Navy’s Wasp-class amphibious assault ship, USS Essex (LHD-2), on which Wei was assigned. A federal grand jury indicted Wei after he was accused of selling national defense secrets to a Chinese intelligence officer, for which the sailor was reportedly paid $12,000.
Wei, now 25, was serving as a machinist’s mate in the US Navy when he was arrested and accused of providing as many as 50 manuals containing technical and mechanical data on various ships, as well as details on the number and training of Marines during an upcoming exercise, to the Chinese government.
The United States Department of Justice (DoJ) noted that “the crime of espionage under US Code Section 794 has never been charged in this district.”
Don’t Always Listen to Your Parents, Kids
What makes Wei’s story all the more unique is that, when he was 22, his mother actively encouraged him to provide classified materials to the agent, as she suggested it could help him land a job with the Chinese government after he left the Navy.
In February 2022, Wei was approached by an unnamed Chinese intelligence officer who claimed to be employed by the state-owned China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation and requested information on Navy ships. At the time, Wei was still applying for naturalization as a US citizen.
Later that year, while on leave for the Christmas holiday, Wei told his mother about the situation. Instead of expressing concern, she encouraged him to continue helping the intelligence officer, whom he called “Big Brother Andy,” saying it could help him get a job in the government and lead to connections within the Chinese Communist Party.
Accordingly, over 18 months from March 2022 until August 2023, Wei sold “Big Brother Andy” at least 30 technical and operating manuals covering a variety of US Navy systems, along with at least 60 additional manuals for US vessels. Within the manuals were “export control warnings and detailed the operations of multiple systems aboard the Essex and similar ships, including power, steering, weapons control, aircraft and deck elevators, as well as damage and casualty controls.”
In addition, Wei provided dozens of photographs of USS Essex and papers on his assignments.
“Many of the manuals contained conspicuous export-control warnings on their cover pages,” the DoJ noted.
Wei Convicted on Six Counts—Acquitted of Naturalization Fraud
Wei pleaded not guilty, but after a five-day trial, with one additional day of deliberation, he was convicted of six crimes. According to the Justice Department, the crimes included “conspiracy to commit espionage, espionage, and unlawful export of, and conspiracy to export, technical data related to defense articles in violation of the Arms Export Control Act and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations.”
The DOJ also noted that Wei was found not guilty of one count of naturalization fraud—though the judge and prosecutor each noted that Wei would likely undergo denaturalization proceedings as well.
“Members of the United States military swear to support and defend the Constitution of the United States,” said Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. “This active-duty US Navy sailor betrayed his country and compromised the national security of the United States. The Justice Department will not tolerate this behavior. We stand ready to investigate, defend, and protect the interests of the American people.”
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu has contributed over 3,200 published pieces to more than four dozen magazines and websites over a 30-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a contributing writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: Editor@nationalinterest.org.
Image: Wikimedia Commons.
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Источник: nationalinterest.org