US Navy Machinist’s Mate Sentenced for Spying on USS Essex for China

A U.S. Navy sailor, Jinchao Wei, 25, has been convicted of spying for China while on active duty. Wei, who served as a machinist’s mate on the amphibious assault ship USS Essex stationed at Naval Base San Diego, was found guilty on six of seven charges, including two counts of espionage under the Espionage Act and four counts of conspiracy violating the Arms Export Control Act.

Prosecutors revealed that Wei exploited his security clearance to provide a Chinese intelligence officer with sensitive information about U.S. warships, including details about their weapons, propulsion, and vulnerabilities. Over 18 months, Wei sold this critical military information for $12,000. He also sent photos and videos of the Essex, disclosed locations of various Navy vessels, and advised the Chinese handler on defensive weapons systems. Wei was recruited via social media by a Chinese agent who initially posed as a naval enthusiast associated with the China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation.

The betrayal is deemed severe, as it jeopardized the lives of fellow sailors, the security of the U.S., and its allies. Wei, a naturalized U.S. citizen originally from China, faces a potential life sentence with sentencing scheduled for December 1. Another sailor arrested alongside Wei was sentenced last year to 27 months in prison for conspiring with Chinese intelligence and accepting bribes.

This case underscores ongoing concerns about espionage threats within the U.S. military and highlights the challenges of counterintelligence efforts against foreign intelligence services targeting military personnel.