US sailor sentenced to 16 years in prison in Chinese espionage case

Al JazeeraCenterEN 2 min read 100% complete by By The Associated PressJanuary 13, 2026 at 08:51 AM

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Jinchao Wei, a former US Navy sailor, was sentenced to over 16 years in prison in San Diego on Monday for selling sensitive military information to a Chinese intelligence officer. Wei, an engineer on the USS Essex, was convicted in August 2025 of espionage and other charges for providing technical manuals and operating procedures for US Navy ships in exchange for over $12,000. He was recruited in 2022 via social media by an officer posing as a naval enthusiast. Wei acknowledged to a friend that the contact was likely involved in espionage. This case is part of a broader US concern regarding Chinese espionage efforts to steal sensitive government and commercial information. Another sailor, Wenheng Zhao, was sentenced in 2024 for a similar offense.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

San Diego 30% China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation 40% USS Essex 50% Wenheng Zhao 50% United States 60% United States Department of Justice 60% United States Navy 70% China ×380% Jinchao Wei ×490%

Keywords

espionage 100% china 90% us navy 80% selling information 70% jinchao wei 70% intelligence operative 60% sentenced 50% military information 50% uss essex 40%