The FBI has arrested two active-duty Army soldiers and one former soldier for “betraying” their country by allegedly scheming to send national defense information to communist China.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced on March 6 that they had charged former soldier Ruoyu Duan and active duty Army soldiers Jian Zhao and Li Tian — who are both based at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state — for stealing U.S. military secrets. All three men have been accused of stealing top secret hard drives, as well as information on weapons systems and documents on missile defenses. They were reportedly planning to sell all of this information to individuals in communist China, betraying their country.
Attorney General Pam Bondi addressed the news in a statement, writing: “The defendants arrested today are accused of betraying our country, actively working to weaken America’s defense capabilities and empowering our adversaries in China. They will face swift, severe, and comprehensive justice.”
Tian and Duan have both been charged in Oregon with conspiring to commit bribery and theft of government property, while Zhao has been charged in Washington state with conspiring to obtain and transmit national defense information, as well as bribery and theft of government property.
FBI Director Kash Patel stated: “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, including national defense information. The FBI and our partners will continue to work to uncover attempts by those in China to steal sensitive U.S. military information and hold all accountable who play a role in betraying our national defense.”
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
The indictment states that both Tian and Duan were involved in a conspiracy starting around November 28, 2021 that was still active as recently as December 19, 2024. They were reportedly trying to steal information on America’s operation capabilities through the theft of technical manuals and other documents. Duan specifically paid Tian to steal information about the Bradley and Stryker Army fighting vehicles.
Meanwhile, Zhao allegedly sold hard drives marked “SECRET” and “TOP SECRET” to Chinese individuals after July 2024 for at least $10,000. Zhao also allegedly stole a government computer with details about the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, as well as information about a potential conflict between communist China and the United States.
“These arrests underscore the persistent and increasing foreign intelligence threat facing our Army and nation,” Brig. Gen. Rhett Cox of Army Counterintelligence Command explained. “Along with the Department of Justice and FBI, Army Counterintelligence Command will continue to work tirelessly to hold those accountable who irresponsibly and selfishly abandon the Army values and choose personal gain over duty to our nation.”
