Three U.S. Army soldiers—two active-duty and one former—were arrested Thursday for allegedly selling sensitive military documents and information to buyers in China, according to the Department of Justice.
Li Tian and Ruoyu Duan were charged in Oregon with conspiracy to commit bribery and theft of government property, while Jian Zhao was charged in Washington with the same crimes, along with conspiracy to transmit national defense information to an unauthorized recipient. Prosecutors say the classified materials ended up in the hands of individuals based in China.
“The defendants arrested today are accused of betraying our country, actively working to weaken America’s defense capabilities, and empowering our adversaries in China,” U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi said. “They will face swift, severe, and comprehensive justice.”
According to an indictment filed in the Western District of Washington, Zhao, an active-duty sergeant stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, conspired to pass classified hard drives marked “Secret” and “Top Secret” to Chinese buyers beginning in July 2024. He also allegedly attempted to sell an encrypted government computer and documents detailing an artillery missile system and U.S. military readiness for a potential conflict with China. Prosecutors say he received at least $15,000 in exchange for the information.
Tian and Duan allegedly worked together between November 2021 and December 2024 to gather technical manuals and other materials on U.S. Army operations. Tian, also stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, sent classified information to Duan, a former Army member who served from 2013 to 2017. The materials reportedly detailed military weapons systems, including Bradley and Stryker armored fighting vehicles. Their indictment was filed in the District of Oregon.
“All three soldiers violated their duties and sold out the U.S. to a foreign adversary,” prosecutors stated.
FBI Director Kash Patel emphasized that the FBI, in collaboration with U.S. Army Counterintelligence, would continue to track and disrupt attempts by China to steal classified U.S. military data.
The arrests come amid heightened tensions between the U.S. and China. This week, China warned that it is prepared for conflict after President Donald Trump imposed a 20% tariff on Chinese imports, doubling the previous 10% rate. Beijing retaliated with an additional 15% tariff on American goods.
