Two active-duty U.S. Army soldiers have been arrested for selling top-secret military information to China, including details about weapons systems, for tens of thousands of dollars.
Key Takeaways
- Army soldiers Jian Zhao and Li Tian were arrested for selling classified U.S. military information to Chinese intelligence agents for financial gain.
- The soldiers compromised sensitive details about the Stryker combat vehicle, High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, and other critical weapons systems.
- China uses “cut-outs” and targets U.S. military personnel stationed overseas through sophisticated intelligence operations.
- Chinese espionage efforts extend beyond military targets to academia, with five former University of Michigan students recently charged with spying.
- Security experts warn that China’s intelligence apparatus is massive and aggressive in pursuing American military secrets.
Betrayal Within the Ranks: Army Soldiers Caught Selling Secrets
In a shocking breach of national security, two active-duty U.S. Army soldiers, Jian Zhao and Li Tian, have been arrested for allegedly selling highly classified “Top Secret” information to individuals connected to Chinese intelligence. The soldiers reportedly compromised sensitive data about critical U.S. military equipment and systems, including the Stryker combat vehicle and High Mobility Artillery Rocket System. This treasonous activity represents one of the most direct examples of China’s increasingly bold espionage operations targeting American defense capabilities.
According to court documents, Tian allegedly sold sensitive military information to former soldier Ruoyu Duan, who was receiving money from China. For betraying his country, Tian pocketed tens of thousands of dollars. Meanwhile, Zhao allegedly received at least $15,000 for selling classified information including military hard drives and details about the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System. The ease with which these soldiers were willing to compromise national security for relatively small sums has alarmed defense officials and counterintelligence experts.
China’s Sophisticated Espionage Tactics
China employs highly sophisticated methods to compromise U.S. military personnel. Intelligence experts have identified their use of “cut-outs” – trusted intermediaries who don’t appear directly connected to Chinese intelligence – as a primary tactic for approaching potential assets. These cut-outs establish relationships with military personnel and gradually cultivate them as sources, sometimes leveraging financial incentives, blackmail, or appeals to ethnic heritage to gain cooperation.
“I think anybody who serves in the U.S. government is in the crosshairs. And China will do it,” said Dan Hoffman, former CIA station chief.
In Tian’s case, investigators discovered that he allegedly brought a personal cellphone into a classified area, printed classified documents, and took screenshots of sensitive information – all fundamental security violations that should have been detected through proper counterintelligence measures. China’s intelligence apparatus specifically targets military personnel stationed overseas, who may be more vulnerable due to isolation, financial pressures, or reduced security oversight compared to domestic installations.
Broader Threat to American Security
China’s espionage campaign extends far beyond military targets. According to intelligence experts, Chinese intelligence services are conducting a comprehensive effort to extract American knowledge, technology and security information through multiple vectors. This includes targeting academia, as evidenced by five former University of Michigan students recently charged with spying, as well as government agencies, research institutions, and private sector companies working on sensitive technologies.
“They want to recruit U.S. military because there’s a probability we might go to war with China, and not just U.S. military, but NATO members as well, and throughout Asia. So they’ve got a massive intelligence apparatus,” said Dan Hoffman, former CIA station chief.
FBI Director Kash Patel has taken a strong stance against this betrayal of national trust, stating “While bribery and corruption have thrived under China’s Communist Party, this behavior cannot be tolerated with our service members who are entrusted with sensitive military information, including national defense information.” The Trump administration has prioritized countering Chinese espionage through enhanced counterintelligence measures and prosecuting those who compromise national security.
America’s Vulnerabilities and Required Countermeasures
National security experts have expressed alarm at both the sophistication of China’s operations and the apparent ease with which they’ve been able to compromise U.S. military personnel. Michael Sobolik from the Hudson Institute highlighted the particularly troubling aspect that Americans would sell out their country for relatively small sums, describing China’s information gathering methods as “shameless” in their aggressive pursuit of U.S. military secrets.
“China is ‘shameless’ in how it collects information through spies,” said Michael Sobolik, senior fellow at the Hudson Institute.
The Pentagon and intelligence community must implement more rigorous security protocols, including enhanced background checks, continuous monitoring, improved operational security training, and stronger encryption for sensitive communications. Military personnel require additional counterintelligence training specifically focused on recognizing and reporting recruitment attempts by foreign intelligence services. President Trump has consistently emphasized the Chinese threat to American security and sovereignty, making countering their espionage operations a centerpiece of his administration’s defense strategy.
