A 24-year-old US Army sergeant and intelligence analyst has been charged with selling military secrets to a contact in China. The Department of Justice announced that the sergeant allegedly received around $42,000 from a contact in Hong Kong who claimed to work for a geopolitical consulting firm based overseas.
The accused individual provided sensitive government information to the coconspirator in exchange for financial gain, according to Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen. The communication between the sergeant and the contact took place between June 2022 and October 2023.
The contact initially inquired about US intelligence related to the Ukraine war and how Russia's actions might impact US strategies concerning Taiwan. The sergeant shared details on US military equipment such as the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, analyses of major countries like China, and summaries of military operations.
In August 2022, the sergeant expressed a desire to emulate the fictional CIA assassin Jason Bourne, known for his espionage skills. The accused individual faces six charges, including bribery and conspiracy.
This incident is not an isolated case, as a US Navy sailor was recently convicted for disclosing confidential military plans to Chinese intelligence. The sailor received bribes totaling nearly $15,000 for providing the classified information.
