Ex-Navy Sailor Sentenced for Selling Military Secrets to China
An ex-sailor from the U.S. Navy has been handed a prison sentence exceeding 16 years after being convicted of selling sensitive naval manuals to a Chinese intelligence officer. The legal proceedings took place in San Diego, where Jinchao Wei, aged 25, received a 200-month sentence following his conviction on six counts, including espionage, in August.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Wei, who served as an engineer on the USS Essex, was compensated over $12,000 for the classified information he handed over. The case is one of two involving sailors based in California accused of passing sensitive military data to Chinese contacts. Another sailor, Wenheng Zhao, received a sentence of over two years in 2024 after admitting to conspiracy and bribery charges.
U.S. authorities have long been concerned about espionage activities attributed to the Chinese government, citing numerous legal actions against Chinese operatives involved in the theft of critical government and commercial data through hacking and other means.
The recruitment of Wei began in 2022 when a Chinese intelligence officer, posing as a naval enthusiast, contacted him via social media. The officer claimed to be affiliated with the China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation, a state-owned enterprise. Despite expressing his suspicions to a friend, Wei continued communications using an encrypted app he believed was secure.
Over an 18-month period, Wei provided the officer with numerous photos, videos, and information about the Essex’s location and its defensive capabilities. Furthermore, he sold 60 technical and operating manuals, which included details on weapons control and other critical systems of the Essex and similar vessels. These manuals carried export control warnings.
At the time of his offenses, Wei held the rank of petty officer second class, which is an enlisted position within the Navy. The Navy’s website describes the USS Essex as capable of transporting and supporting over 2,000 Marine Corps troops during assaults.
In a pre-sentencing letter, Wei apologized to the court, expressing regret for sharing information with someone he thought was a friend. He attributed his actions to “introversion and loneliness,” which he claimed impaired his judgment.
