Oregon Prosecutors Charge U.S. Army Soldiers with Selling Top-Secret Military Info to China in Shocking Betrayal

Three U.S. Army soldiers were arrested yesterday, ‘accused of betraying the country, actively working to weaken America’s defense capabilities, and empowering our adversaries in China,’ said Attorney General Pamela J. Bondi in an Oregon District Attorney office news release.

Jian Zhao and Li Tian, active-duty U.S. Army soldiers stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state, together with Ruoyu Duan, a former U.S. Army soldier, were arrested following indictments by federal grand juries in the District of Oregon and the Western District of Washington.

Tian and Duan were charged in the District of Oregon with stealing government property and conspiring to commit bribery. Zhao was charged in the Western District of Washington with bribery and theft of government property and conspiring to obtain and transmit national defense information.

The indictment in the District of Oregon alleges that on or about 28 November 2021, and continuing to about 19 December 2024, Duan and Tian, along with others known and unknown to the grand jury, conspired to surreptitiously gather sensitive military information related to the U.S. Army’s operational capabilities, including sensitive information and technical manuals..

Tian was Tasked with Gathering Information about U.S. Military Weapon Systems

Tian, who was tasked with gathering information related to U.S. military weapon systems, including information related to the Bradley and Stryker U.S. Army fighting vehicles, is accused of transmitting this information to Duan in return for money, a violation of his official duties as an active-duty U.S. Army officer.

The indictment in the Western District of Washington alleges that Jian Zhao, an active-duty U.S. Army Supply Sergeant, conspired to obtain and transmit national defense information to individuals based in China. Zhao is also alleged to have stolen government property and committed bribery.

Zhao Sold ‘Top Secret’ Information to China

Zhao is specifically charged with conspiracy to collect and transmit classified hard drives, including those marked “SECRET” and “TOP SECRET”, negotiating their sale with individuals based in China, and agreeing to send the classified hard drives to those individuals in China.

Zhao was paid at least $10,000 for the classified hard drives from July 2023 to the date of his arrest.

Zhao is also accused of conspiring to sell an encryption-capable computer stolen from the U.S. Government, and sensitive U.S. military documents and information, including information related to the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), and information related to U.S. military readiness should a conflict with the People’s Republic of China occur.

Zhao is alleged to have violated his duties as a U.S. Army Soldier and public official to protect sensitive military information in exchange for money totaling at least $15,000.

Their Actions Caused Significant Risk and Damage

Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Portland Field Office Douglas A. Olson said the actions of Duan and Tian ‘caused significant risk and damage to U.S. National Security.’

Brig. Gen. Rhett R. Cox, Commanding General, of Army Counterintelligence Command, said the arrests underscored the persistent and increasing foreign intelligence threat facing the U.S. Army and nation.

Investigations were conducted by the FBI Portland and Seattle Field Offices and U.S. Army Counterintelligence Command, assisted by the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Seattle Field Office, CBP Office of Professional Responsibility, United States Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Army and Navy Investigative Services.