In a statement addressing the arrests, FBI Director Kash Patel said 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,” Patel added. “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.”

Zhao, a battery supply sergeant stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, was charged in the Western District of Washington for conspiring to sell 20 classified hard drives marked “SECRET” and “TOP SECRET” to buyers in China. He was also accused of conspiring to sell a stolen encrypted military computer and other sensitive information related to U.S. military readiness in the event of a conflict with China. Zhao’s illegal activity began around July 2024 and he received at least $15,000 in exchange for selling the hard drives and other sensitive information, the Justice Department alleged.

Tian, who was also stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, and Duan were indicted in the District of Oregon. The two men allegedly worked together to gather sensitive military information about weapons systems and armored vehicles. They began the nefarious activity around November 2021, according to Bondi’s office.

“Tian transmitted this information to Duan in return for money, in violation of his official duties as an active-duty U.S. Army officer,” according to the DOJ. “Specifically, Tian was tasked with gathering information related to U.S. military weapon systems, including information related to the Bradley and Stryker U.S. Army fighting vehicles, and transmitting them to Duan.”

Brig. Gen. Rhett Cox, the commanding general of the Army Counterintelligence Command, said the arrests “underscore the persistent and increasing foreign intelligence threat facing our Army and nation.”

His comments come as tensions between China and the United States have come to the forefront over the Trump administration’s tariffs on Beijing, which seek to pressure the country to reduce the flow of fentanyl into the U.S. China has retaliated with reciprocal tariffs.

“If war is what the U.S. wants, be it a tariff war, a trade war or any other type of war, we’re ready to fight till the end,” Chinese Embassy officials said Tuesday.

LUTNICK SAYS TRUMP ‘DOES HAVE THE CARDS’ IN TARIFF BATTLE WITH CHINA

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick attempted to provide reassurances that the U.S. holds the edge over China on Sunday.

“I think China’s set,” Lutnick said on Fox News’s Sunday Morning Futures. “They either end these subsidies and they end making these ingredients for fentanyl, or [Trump]’s going to put tariffs on there. And if they think they’re going to retaliate, remember, they have so much more that they sell to us than we sell to them. It’s not even close. This is not a battle we’re ever going to lose, and the president knows it. He does have the cards, and he’s going to protect America.”