PNN – According to the announcement of the US Department of Justice, a 26-year-old member of the US Navy was sentenced to 27 months in prison for spying for China.
According to the report of Pakistan News Network, Wenheng Zhao, who was a member of a US Navy base in California, was convicted of providing classified information to China.
A Navy SEAL who was sentenced to 27 months in prison had previously admitted to providing sensitive military information to a Chinese intelligence officer, the Justice Department said in a statement.
According to US officials, Wenheng Zhao received about $15,000 from the Chinese intelligence agent between August 2021 and May 2023. This 26-year-old American was stationed at the naval base north of Los Angeles.
In addition to 27 months in prison, this member of the US Navy has also been sentenced to pay a fine of $5,500.
He was accused of handing over sensitive information about U.S. Navy exercises and critical infrastructure in the Pacific, and specifically, electrical diagrams and blueprints for a radar system located on the Japanese island of Okinawa.
US Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen said Zhao betrayed his oath to defend the country and put those who serve in the US military at risk. According to him, this ministry is “committed to fighting the efforts of the Chinese government to undermine the security of our country.”
The announcement of the sentence of this American naval officer was made in the context that the Chinese government announced yesterday that the country’s security agencies announced the discovery of a British spy agent.
According to the Ministry of National Security of China, a foreign national named “Huang” is accused of spying for foreign countries and “MI6” established intelligence cooperation with this person in 2015.
Huang is said to have been ordered by Britain’s spy service to enter China and use his public identity as a cover to gather information about China and spy for Britain.