**US Sailor Sentenced to 16 Years in Prison in Chinese Espionage Case**
A former United States Navy sailor has been sentenced to more than 16 years in prison after being convicted of selling sensitive information to an intelligence officer working for China.
Jinchao Wei, a 25-year-old engineer who served on the amphibious assault ship USS Essex, was handed down a sentence of 200 months (almost 17 years) in prison by a federal judge in San Diego. In August, a jury had convicted Wei of six crimes, including espionage, based on accusations that he was paid over $12,000 for selling information to China's intelligence officer.
The case is the latest in a string of incidents highlighting concerns about Chinese espionage and cyber threats facing the US government and its military. According to prosecutors, Wei was recruited by an intelligence officer who posed as a naval enthusiast working for the state-owned China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation on social media in 2022. The officer, whose true identity remains unknown, allegedly used encrypted messaging apps to communicate with Wei.
Despite his initial reservations about the officer's intentions, Wei chose to disregard advice from a friend who described the contact as "extremely suspicious" and proceeded to share sensitive information over an encrypted app that he believed was more secure. Over the course of 18 months, Wei sent photos and videos of the Essex, revealed the location of various naval ships, and shared details about the ship's defensive systems with the officer.
Weissold a total of 60 technical and operating manuals to the intelligence officer, including those related to weapons control, aircraft, and deck elevators. These documents contained export control warnings and detailed the operations of multiple systems on board the Essex and similar ships. As an engineer and petty officer second class (an enlisted sailor's rank), Wei had access to classified information.
The USS Essex is a naval ship equipped to transport and support more than 2,000 personnel during air and amphibious assaults, according to the Navy's website.
Before sentencing, Wei apologized in a letter to the judge, stating that he should not have shared any information with the person whom he had considered a friend. He claimed that "introversion and loneliness" clouded his judgment.
**Timeline:**
* 2022: Jinchao Wei is recruited by an intelligence officer on social media. * August 2023: A jury convicts Wei of six crimes, including espionage. * 2024: Wenheng Zhao, a fellow California-based sailor, pleads guilty to one count of conspiracy and one count of receiving a bribe in violation of his official duties.
**Related Cases:**
* In recent years, the US Department of Justice has pursued several high-profile cases against Chinese intelligence operatives who have allegedly stolen sensitive information through hacking and other means. * These cases highlight ongoing concerns about China's espionage activities targeting the US government, military, and commercial interests.