Two US Navy sailors have been arrested on prices of handing over delicate nationwide safety materials to China, US officers mentioned Thursday.

Petty Officer Wenheng Zhao, 26, was charged with conspiracy and bribetaking in reference to taking practically $15,000 in trade for pictures and movies of delicate US Navy info, the officers mentioned. US Navy sailor, Jinchao Wei, whose age was not disclosed, was charged with conspiring to ship nationwide protection info to China in trade for thousands of {dollars}.

Assistant Legal professional Basic Matt Olsen instructed reporters in San Diego that, due to the lads’ actions, “delicate navy data ended up within the fingers of the Folks’ Republic of China.”

Zhao is accused of sending his Chinese language handler plans for US Navy workouts within the Indo-Pacific area, electrical diagrams, and blueprints for a radar system on a US Navy base in Okinawa, Japan, and safety particulars for US naval amenities in Ventura County, and San Clemente Island outdoors Los Angeles, in response to US officers.

Wei is accused of revealing details about the USS Essex, an amphibious assault ship the place he served, in addition to different American warships, together with dozens of technical manuals laying out the Essex’s weapons, energy construction, and operations.

Contact particulars for Wei and Zhao couldn’t instantly be situated.

US officers at the press convention condemned China’s espionage marketing campaign Thursday.

“There isn’t any greater, multigenerational menace to the USA” than China, mentioned FBI Particular Agent Stacey Moy. Beijing”will cease at nothing to assault the USA in its strategic plan to grow to be the world’s sole superpower.”

The Chinese language Embassy in Washington didn’t instantly return a message in search of touch upon the allegations.

US-China relations have been tense for years over a spread of nationwide safety and commerce points. The US has accused China of espionage and cyberattacks, a cost that Beijing has rejected. China has additionally declared that it’s below menace from spies.