US Navy sailor pleads guilty to conspiring with Chinese intelligence officer

In a startling turn of events, a U.S. Navy sailor arrested on national security charges has pleaded guilty to conspiring with a Chinese intelligence officer and receiving bribes, as confirmed by the Department of Justice (DOJ).Petty Officer Wenheng Zhao, a 26-year-old resident of Monterey Park, California, initially entered a plea of not guilty but had a change of heart on Tuesday. In his plea, Zhao admitted to participating in a "corrupt scheme to collect and transmit sensitive U.S. military information to the intelligence officer in violation of his official duties," according to a statement released by the DOJ.The U.S. Navy sailor accepted $15,000 in bribes from ChinaThe sailor, who held a U.S. security clearance, confessed to accepting nearly $15,000 in bribes from the Chinese intelligence officer between August 2021 and May of this year. This illicit activity occurred during Zhao's tenure at Naval Base Ventura County in Port Hueneme, California.Zhao was arrested on August 3, alongside another sailor, Jinchao Wei, aged 22, who faced espionage charges upon arriving for work at Naval Base San Diego. Notably, Wei pleaded not guilty to the charges in a San Diego federal court.Zhao has been in custody since arrestZhao, also known as Thomas Zhao, has been in custody since his arrest and now faces the possibility of a maximum 20-year sentence in federal prison. His sentencing is scheduled for January 8.The U.S. authorities have underscored the seriousness of the matter, with Matthew Olsen, assistant attorney general for national security, pointing out that China's intelligence services actively target individuals with security clearances across the military, enticing them with financial incentives to provide sensitive government information. Olsen also emphasized that rather than reporting the situation to the Navy when contacted by his co-conspirator, Zhao chose personal gain over the national security of the United States.Heeding a stern warning, Olsen stated, "To others tempted to put personal profit ahead of patriotic duty, know that we are committed to identifying you and bringing you to justice."As of now, Chinese officials have not issued a public response to Zhao's guilty plea or the remarks made by Matthew Olsen. The case serves as a sobering reminder of the vigilance required to protect national security interests amid evolving espionage threats.

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US Navy sailor pleads guilty to conspiring with Chinese intelligence officer

The sailor, who held a U.S. security clearance, confessed to accepting nearly $15,000 in bribes from the Chinese intelligence officer.

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