Two U.S. Navy Servicemembers Arrested for Transmitting Military Information to China

In a striking blow to national security, two U.S. Navy servicemembers have been arrested for their involvement in transmitting sensitive military information to the People’s Republic of China (PRC). The arrests, which took place in the Southern and Central Districts of California, underscore the ongoing threat posed by espionage activities targeting the United States.

Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division expressed the gravity of the situation, stating, “These individuals stand accused of violating the commitments they made to protect the United States and betraying the public trust, to the benefit of the PRC government.” Olsen emphasized that the Department of Justice is fully committed to utilizing all available resources to counter threats from China and deter those who aid in breaking U.S. laws and compromising national security.

Assistant Director Suzanne Turner of the FBI’s Counterintelligence Division echoed Olsen's concerns, highlighting the unrelenting efforts of the People’s Republic of China to undermine American democracy. She noted that the servicemembers' actions had compromised U.S. national security by leaking sensitive military information.

Case 1: United States v. Jinchao Wei

In the Southern District of California, U.S. Navy sailor Jinchao Wei, also known as Patrick Wei, was arrested on espionage charges as he reported for duty at Naval Base San Diego. Wei is accused of conspiring to send national defense information to a Chinese intelligence officer. The indictment alleges that Wei, serving as a machinist’s mate on the U.S.S. Essex, an amphibious assault ship stationed at Naval Base San Diego, provided sensitive national defense information to the Chinese intelligence officer.

The indictment revealed that Wei communicated with the intelligence officer beginning in February 2022. This communication involved sharing photos, videos, and documents related to U.S. Navy ships and their systems. The indictment further outlined how Wei was paid thousands of dollars in exchange for this information. Additionally, he sent technical manuals, including critical technology data, to the intelligence officer. The indictment states that Wei knowingly violated export control regulations by transmitting this information without the required license.

Case 2: United States v. Wenheng Zhao

Petty Officer Wenheng Zhao, also known as Thomas Zhao, was arrested in the Central District of California following an indictment by a federal grand jury. Zhao is accused of receiving bribes in exchange for transmitting sensitive U.S. military information to an individual posing as a maritime economic researcher. The indictment alleges that Zhao, stationed at Naval Base Ventura County, received bribes from a Chinese intelligence officer in return for disclosing non-public sensitive U.S. military information.

Zhao's actions allegedly involved recording and transmitting U.S. military information, photographs, and videos. The information he provided included operational plans for a large-scale U.S. military exercise and electrical diagrams for a radar system in Okinawa, Japan. In exchange for this information, Zhao received payments from the Chinese intelligence officer.

Both cases underscore the urgency of countering espionage and protecting national security. The accused servicemembers face significant penalties if convicted.

The investigations were conducted by the FBI's Counterintelligence and Cyber Division, along with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS). IRS Criminal Investigation provided substantial assistance.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys and Trial Attorneys from the Department of Justice's National Security Division are prosecuting the cases.

An indictment is an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Former U.S. Air Force Officer Sentenced: Unveiling the Breach of National Security Secrets

Former U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel, Robert L. Birchum, was sentenced to three years in federal prison and fined $25,000 by U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle in Tampa, FL. Birchum pleaded guilty to unlawfully possessing and retaining classified documents related to national defense on February 21, 2023.

During his 29-year career in the Air Force, Birchum held various intelligence positions, working with classified information for prominent agencies such as the Joint Special Operations Command and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. Despite having entered into agreements to protect classified information, Birchum violated these obligations.

In 2017, law enforcement discovered that Birchum had knowingly taken over 300 classified files and documents, including more than 30 labeled as Top Secret, from authorized locations. He stored these materials in unauthorized places such as his home, overseas officer's quarters, and a storage pod in his driveway. Among the confiscated items were two documents on a thumb drive found at Birchum's residence, containing sensitive information about the National Security Agency's capabilities, collection methods, and vulnerabilities of targets. Both documents were classified as Top Secret/SCI, and their unauthorized release posed a grave threat to national security.

U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg emphasized the serious risk that Birchum's actions posed to national security, thanking law enforcement partners for their commitment to safeguarding the nation. FBI Tampa Special Agent in Charge David Walker highlighted the FBI's dedication to protecting the secrets of the U.S. Intelligence community and ensuring the security of the country.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cherie L. Krigsman of the Middle District of Florida, along with Trial Attorney Evan N. Turgeon from the National Security Division's Counterintelligence and Export Control Section, prosecuted the case.

This sentencing serves as a reminder of the government's determination to pursue individuals who knowingly endanger national security and the critical importance of upholding classified information protocols.

Reforms Improve DOD’s Security Clearance Process, Official Says

By Donna Miles

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON  – Reforms in the personnel security clearance process have improved the speed and efficiency of background investigations and adjudications with a direct, positive impact on the Defense Department’s ability to carry out its mission, a senior defense official told Congress today.

Streamlined policy and processes have cut duplication and waste, Elizabeth A. McGrath, the Pentagon’s deputy chief management officer, told a subcommittee of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.

Reforms also have reduced the time required to adjudicate clearances even lower than the 20-day goal Congress set in the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004, to as little as seven days, she reported.

McGrath attributed this success in large part to a new electronic adjudication capability developed by the Army and now deployed across DOD. The Case Adjudication Tracking System enabled the department to adjudicate 110,000 cases – or 24 percent of its secret clearance applications -- electronically last year, she said. This, in turn, freed up adjudicators to concentrate on other, more complex cases.

Other federal agencies have expressed interest in this technology, McGrath told the panel. So far, the Department of Energy has adopted the new system, and the Social Security Administration plans to do the same next year, she said.

In addition, DOD also has initiated a “robust” adjudicator certification program that ensures all adjudicators receive comprehensive, standardized training, McGrath reported.

“The results are clear, she said of the reform initiatives. “We have a higher-quality security clearance program today.”

One of the tangible measures of that progress was the Government Accountability Office’s removal of the DOD personnel security clearance process form its “High-Risk list” last year, she noted. The list, provided to Congress every two years, identifies federal programs at high risk for waste, fraud, abuse mismanagement or in need of broad reform.

DOD’s improved personnel security clearance process has a sweeping impact on the Defense Department, McGrath said. “It improves our ability to safeguard classified material, place qualified individuals in jobs faster, effectively use our contractor workforce, and reduce the burdens and inconveniences on both the federal workforce and our military members,” she reported.

Joining officials from the Government Accountability Office, Office of Management and Budget, Office of Personnel Management and Office of the Director of National intelligence at today’s hearing, McGrath credited the Joint Reform Team founded five years ago with paving the way for these strides.

One of the big outcomes, she said, was the establishment of the Performance Accountability Council that bridges agency divides and keeps each agency on track toward even greater efficiencies.

The work isn’t yet done, McGrath said, emphasizing the importance of continued collaboration in reaching toward greater efficiencies and cost-effectiveness in background investigations and adjudications.

“Our results represent the progress possible when agencies commit to joint goals informed by government-wide priorities and establish proper controls to ensure results,” she said.

Panetta Visits NSA, Cyber Command Leadership

By Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr.

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON  – Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta met today with the leader of the National Security Agency and U.S. Cyber Command, said Pentagon Press Secretary George Little.

“Today Secretary Panetta visited the National Security Agency and U.S. Cyber Command at Fort Meade, Maryland, where he met with General Keith Alexander, commander, U.S. Cyber Command, and director, National Security Agency, Central Security Service, and the organizations' leadership,” Little said.

Little said Panetta observed technology demonstrations and received briefings about key issues in the cyber arena.

Panetta’s “discussions focused on efforts to enhance information sharing across the Defense Department and the intelligence community,” Little said.

According to Little, Panetta said he was deeply impressed by team efforts to defend America against cyber attack.

“The secretary acknowledged the critical and important work that the Cyber Command and NSA team are accomplishing, and continues to stress the importance of developing cyber capabilities to meet emerging cyber threats,” Little said.

U.S., French Defense Leaders Sign Space Agreement

By Jim Garamone

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Feb. 8, 2011 – U.S. and French defense leaders consulted on a wide range of mutual interests and signed an agreement on space situational awareness at the Pentagon today.

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and French Defense Minister Alain Juppe discussed Afghanistan, restoring NATO, containing Iran’s nuclear ambitions and defeating international terrorism, and also addressed the situation in Egypt.

Gates hosted Juppe and his party last night at a restaurant that once hosted John Quincy Adams and Marquis de Lafayette in 1824.

On Egypt, both men emphasized the need for a peaceful transition. Gates said the Egyptian military “has conducted itself in an exemplary manner” through the protests.

“They have acted with great restraint, and frankly, they have done everything that we have indicated we hoped they would do,” Gates said. “They have made a contribution to the evolution of democracy that we’ve seen in Egypt.”

Egypt needs an orderly transition, but it needs to continue to move forward in a way that allows people to see “a steady pace in implementing a number of the reforms that have been announced and which the Egyptian government has committed,” Gates said.

Juppe stressed that both the United States and France want free and fair elections in Egypt.

“It’s up to the people of Egypt to decide about that,” he said through a translator. “We are ready to support whatever decisions they make.”

Juppe said Arab leaders always have told the West that “it was either us or Islamic chaos.” He said the countries need to let opposition parties form and should not let anyone “confiscate the democratic process.”

Gates called the uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt a “spontaneous manifestation of discontent on the part of people who have both economic and political grievances.” The United States has been aware of the problems, he said, and has spoken to governments in the region on their need to address these problems.

“I would hope that other governments in the region, seeing this spontaneous action in Tunisia and Egypt, would take measures to begin moving in a positive direction,” he said. “In this way, we can have an orderly transition toward greater democracy.”

The two men also signed a bilateral statement on principles for space situational awareness. Gates said the agreement will go a long way toward addressing one of the key security challenges of the 21st century.

“As the new strategy puts it, space is becoming increasingly congested, contested and competitive,” he said.

A growing number of nations are using space for a growing number of purposes: manned spacecraft, satellites, the international space station and more. This increases the odds of accidental collisions.

In addition, many space technologies undergird civilian and defense capabilities such as precision navigation, climate monitoring, secure communications and natural disaster warnings.

“These agreements help us mitigate situations by sharing information and pooling our varied capabilities,” Gates said. “Our arrangement will foster safety and reduce the chance of mishaps, misperceptions and mistrust. Such cooperation is a key aspect of our National Security Space Strategy.”

Juppe emphasized the high level of confidence the French have in their military relationship with the United States. He said the close cooperation between the two nations allows their militaries to work together from Afghanistan -- where France has more than a brigade of troops working with American forces in Regional Command East -– to space, which the minister called one of the most challenging domains.

He assured Gates that France is a reliable partner despite budget constraints that all nations are facing.

“I want to stress that we will safeguard the operational capability of our armed forces,” Juppe said.

China's Expansion into and U.S. Withdrawal from Argentina's Telecommunications and Space Industries and the Implications for U.S. National Security

Chinese involvement in the Latin American telecommunications and space industries has implications for U.S. national security. Unlike other commercial activities geared toward supplying raw materials to China’s 1.3 billion inhabitants, Chinese investment in space and telecommunications implies broader commercial and strategic interests that potentially put the Chinese into Western Hemisphere air and space. At present, Chinese activity in these industries is growing as U.S. engagement is diminishing. Globalization, advances in information technology, and China’s growing capacity and interest in Information Warfare make the United States particularly vulnerable should it abandon international telecommunications and space industries. In order to mitigate future threats, the United States should step up its commerce, aid. and diplomacy with Argentina and the region as a whole.

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