FBI warns region about Chinese government espionage tricks

The FBI sent a warning across Western Washington about efforts by the Chinese government to target residents and businesses, especially in the Puget Sound region after two active-duty U.S. soldiers stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) and former soldier in Oregon were arrested Thursday on charges of shopping around and selling classified information, including weapons documents and hard drives, to the highest bidder in China.

Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Seattle Filed Office, Mike Herrington, told KIRO Newsradio the case highlights the threat posed by the Chinese government to U.S. national security by leveraging potential ways to infiltrate the Pacific Northwest’s high-tech businesses like Microsoft, Google and Amazon, along with multiple military bases and contractors.

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“The cyber threat from the Chinese government is widespread and incredibly sophisticated,” Herrington said. “They target American companies’ intellectual property and steal sensitive U.S. military secrets. They also seek to intimidate U.S. citizens and groups critical of the Chinese government.”

Herrington also noted China uses various methods, including exploiting individuals with access to sensitive information, to acquire U.S. government secrets and pointed to Thursday’s arrest as an example.

Prosecutors said, as recently as December, Army supply specialist Sgt. Jian Zhao, handed over about 20 government hard drives — some marked “secret” — along with military documents detailing missile-launcher technology and systems.

Prosecutors said the active-duty 1st Lieutenant allegedly conspired with former soldier Ruoyu Duan to steal military secrets. Tian is accused of gathering sensitive data on U.S. weapons systems — including Bradley and Stryker vehicles — and selling it to Duan, who then received payments from contacts in China.

“We have two service members and a former service member who really betrayed the trust of the United States government and the Department of Defense,” Herrington said. “The Army trusted them with access to information critical not just to national defense but to the safety and lives of their fellow soldiers. It’s a betrayal that puts their comrades’ lives in danger.”

Herrington would not go into details about whether the trio was actively recruited by Chinese government officials or somebody else. He did say a tip from another FBI field office somewhere in the United States led Special Agents in the Pacific Northwest to launch an investigation, which lasted close to a year.

Herrington added, “The level of betrayal here is unconscionable.”

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