The Guardian-US naval officer sentenced to two years in prison over spying for China
January 9, 2024 2 min 288 words
这则报道揭示了美国一名海军军官因向中国提供敏感军事信息而被判刑，强调了国家安全面临的威胁。赵文恒26岁，在加利福尼亚联邦法庭认罪并被判27个月监禁及5500美元罚款。他在洛杉矶北部的海军基地服役，被指控在2021年8月至2023年5月期间接受中国情报官员约1.5万美元贿赂，并泄露美国海军操作安全、演习和重要基础设施的敏感信息。这不仅是一起个案，更凸显了中美之间紧张关系和情报战的危险。此举强调了加强国家安全意识的紧迫性，同时也需要深入审查美国军方内部的安全机制，以确保防范此类威胁。
A US navy petty officer who pleaded guilty to providing sensitive military information to a Chinese intelligence officer was sentenced to more than two years in prison on Monday, the US justice department said.
Wenheng Zhao, 26, and another US sailor, Jinchao Wei, were arrested in August on suspicion of spying for China.
Zhao pleaded guilty in a federal court in California in October to charges of conspiring with a foreign intelligence officer and accepting a bribe.
He was sentenced on Monday to 27 months in prison and a $5,500 fine.
According to US officials, Zhao, who was stationed at a naval base north of Los Angeles, received nearly $15,000 from the Chinese intelligence officer between August 2021 and May 2023.
In exchange, he handed over sensitive information regarding US Navy operational security, exercises and critical infrastructure.
Zhao specifically provided information about a large-scale maritime training exercise in the Pacific and electrical diagrams and blueprints for a radar system located in Okinawa, Japan.
“Mr Zhao betrayed his solemn oath to defend his country and endangered those who serve in the US military,” assistant attorney general Matthew Olsen said in a statement.
“The justice department is committed to combatting the Chinese government’s efforts to undermine our nation’s security and holding accountable those who violate our laws as part of those efforts.”
Wei, who served on the amphibious assault ship the USS Essex, is accused of handing over to China dozens of documents, photos and videos detailing the operation of ships and their systems.