**US Navy Sailor Jinchao Wei Convicted of Sharing Secrets with Chinese Agent**

**The conviction of Jinchao Wei, a US Navy sailor for espionage, underscores significant security concerns surrounding potential espionage threats within the military, particularly via social media.**

A sailor in the US Navy has been found guilty of espionage, having sold sensitive information about naval operations to a Chinese agent who approached him through social media. Jinchao Wei, 25, was convicted on six counts, including espionage and conspiracy to commit espionage. According to US Attorney Adam Gordon, Wei's actions represent a severe violation of trust that endangers the security of military personnel and national interests.

Wei, also identified as Patrick Wei, was arrested in August 2023 as he reported for duty on the USS Essex, where he worked as a machinist's mate with a security clearance granting him access to classified information about Navy ships. During his trial, prosecutors presented various forms of evidence, including communications with his handler, whom Wei referred to as "Big Brother Andy." This relationship was kept clandestine through encrypted communication methods, including a new mobile device and computer supplied by his Chinese operative.

Evidence further indicated that Wei openly acknowledged his espionage activities in a text to his mother. In one message, he compared his actions to other Chinese individuals serving in the Navy, stating, "Other Chinese serving in the US Navy are still trying to figure out how to make extra money... Whereas I am just leaking secrets." His mother reportedly responded with encouragement, reinforcing his illicit behavior.

Wei's recruitment began in February 2022, coinciding with his naturalization as a US citizen when a Chinese intelligence officer posed as a naval enthusiast affiliated with the state-controlled China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation. Over 18 months, he provided his handler with images and updates regarding the USS Essex's location, sensitive systems onboard, as well as challenges faced by various ships in the Pacific Fleet. In exchange for this classified information, Wei was compensated with more than $12,000.

Scheduled to receive his sentence on December 1, Wei could be facing a life sentence due to his actions. Wei's case echoes the recent arrest of fellow sailor Petty Officer Wenheng Zhao, who was also charged with espionage for allegedly providing sensitive data to a Chinese intelligence officer and was sentenced to 27 months in prison last year. The espionage cases underscore ongoing national security threats, particularly related to cybersecurity and technology vulnerabilities within the military.