US Navy sailor convicted of spying for China

Jinchao Wei is found guilty of selling details about warships' locations and weapons for $12,000.

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Jinchao Wei, 25, was convicted of six charges, including espionage, conspiracy to commit espionage and unlawful export of classified data about US Navy ships.

He was paid more than $12,000 (£8,920) over an 18-month period by a Chinese intelligence officer who approached him in February 2022 for information about the USS Essex, which he served on, as well as other naval vessels.

Wei, also known as Patrick Wei, was arrested in August 2023 on espionage charges as he arrived for work on the amphibious assault ship.

"The defendant's actions represent an egregious betrayal of the trust placed in him as a member of the US military," US Attorney Adam Gordon said in a statement after the verdict was read.