The Department of Justice has announced the arrest of three individuals—two active-duty U.S. Army soldiers and one former soldier—on charges related to espionage activities benefiting China. The accused are Jian Zhao and Li Tian, both stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington, and former soldier Ruoyu Duan. They face allegations of stealing and attempting to transmit sensitive military information, including top-secret hard drives, weapon system details, and missile defense documents, to contacts based in China.
BREAKING: I can now report that today the FBI, along with our interagency partners led by @AGPamBondi, arrested two active duty U.S. Army soldiers and one former U.S. Army soldier for theft of government property and a bribery scheme.
These individuals have been charged with…
— FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) March 7, 2025
Attorney General Pam Bondi emphasized the gravity of these actions, stating that the accused “are charged with betraying our country, actively working to weaken America’s defense capabilities and empowering our adversaries in China.” She assured that they “will face swift, severe, and comprehensive justice.”
The indictment outlines that Duan and Tian conspired from November 28, 2021, to December 19, 2024, to illicitly acquire technical manuals and documentation detailing U.S. operational capabilities. Specifically, Duan allegedly compensated Tian for procuring information on the Bradley and Stryker U.S. Army fighting vehicles.
Zhao is accused of selling hard drives labeled “SECRET” and “TOP SECRET” after July 2024 to Chinese contacts for sums totaling at least $10,000. Additionally, he allegedly stole a government computer containing information on the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System and data pertinent to potential U.S.-China conflicts.
FBI Director Kash Patel highlighted the severity of these breaches, noting that 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.” He reaffirmed the FBI’s commitment to uncovering and prosecuting attempts to compromise U.S. national defense.
Brigadier General Rhett Cox of the Army Counterintelligence Command underscored the persistent foreign intelligence threats facing the nation, asserting that efforts will continue “to hold those accountable who irresponsibly and selfishly abandon the Army values and choose personal gain over duty to our nation.”
These arrests serve as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges posed by espionage and the critical importance of safeguarding national defense information.