Three individuals with ties to the U.S. Army have been charged with selling sensitive military information to Chinese contacts. The case represents a significant breach of trust within military ranks and underscores the ongoing challenges of counterintelligence in safeguarding America’s military secrets against foreign adversaries. How did the alleged conspiracy to sell military secrets first develop?
The Unfolding Conspiracy
The alleged espionage operation began in November 2021 when Captain Li Tian, stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington State, initiated communication with a foreign national in China. What started as sharing real estate documents quickly evolved into a systematic selling of sensitive U.S. military information, with Tian allegedly recruiting Sergeant Jian Zhao and former soldier Ruoyu Duan into the conspiracy.
Court documents reveal that the materials sold included technical manuals for artillery systems, PowerPoint presentations detailing military personnel positions, and video footage of military exercises. The conspirators allegedly received substantial payments for these materials, with Zhao alone collecting around $15,000 for classified hard drives and sensitive documents.
🚨JUST ANNOUNCED: Three U.S. soldiers from Pacific NW were arrested for sharing/spying on the United States of America Military classified information with Communist China. #TheTraitors #TheTraitorsUS
Jian Zhao, and Li Tian, active-duty U.S. Army soldiers stationed at Joint Base… pic.twitter.com/ZIlUQn4LqA
— AJ Huber (@Huberton) March 7, 2025
Payment Schemes and Communication Methods
Financial transactions between the accused and their Chinese contacts were conducted through digital payment platforms, including PayPal, Zelle, and WeChat. According to federal investigators, Duan reportedly received approximately $38,500 from Chinese PayPal accounts and an additional $14,600 through Zelle between 2021 and 2024.
The conspirators used sophisticated communication methods to coordinate their activities, primarily conversing in Mandarin via Facebook Messenger, WeChat, and email. In one revealing exchange, Zhao expressed concern about the operation’s risks, messaging, “Do you know how risky this is?!?” to which his Chinese contact replied, “If I were in your position, I would not dare.”
US Army soldiers Li Tian, Ruoyu Duan, and Jian Zhao indicted for selling secrets to China.
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Legal Proceedings and National Security Implications
Tian and Duan now face serious charges of conspiring to bribe a public official and stealing government property. Zhao has been separately charged with offenses related to national defense information and bribery, reflecting the gravity of the alleged betrayal.
The FBI continues to investigate the case, with the potential for additional charges as more evidence comes to light. This case highlights the ongoing challenge of insider threats to military security and represents a significant counterintelligence concern for the Department of Defense.
National security experts view this case as particularly troubling given the technical nature of the information allegedly provided to Chinese contacts. The compromised information could potentially give adversaries insights into U.S. military capabilities, training methods, and operational procedures at a time of increasing global tensions.
The Joint Base Lewis-McChord case follows a pattern of increasing espionage attempts targeting U.S. military personnel and defense contractors. Defense officials have emphasized the need for enhanced security protocols and counterintelligence training to prevent similar breaches in the future.