But this 8/21/25 BBC News article make you go hmmm:
A US Navy sailor in California has been convicted of espionage for selling secrets to a Chinese agent who recruited him through social media.
Jinchao Wei, 25, was convicted of six charges, including espionage, conspiracy to commit espionage and unlawful export of classified data about US Navy ships.
He was paid more than $12,000 (£8,920) over an 18-month period by a Chinese intelligence officer who approached him in February 2022 for information about the USS Essex, which he served on, as well as other naval vessels.
Wei, also known as Patrick Wei, was arrested in August 2023 on espionage charges as he arrived for work on the amphibious assault ship.
"The defendant's actions represent an egregious betrayal of the trust placed in him as a member of the US military," US Attorney Adam Gordon said in a statement after the verdict was read.
"By trading military secrets to the People's Republic of China for cash, he jeopardised not only the lives of his fellow sailors but also the security of the entire nation and our allies."...
A text exchange between Wei and his mother was presented to show that he understood he was committing espionage.
"Other Chinese serving in the US Navy are still trying to figure out how to make extra money, and driving cabs. Whereas I am just leaking secrets," Wei texted his mother.
She responded: "Good job!"...
Wei was arrested alongside Petty Officer Wenheng Zhao, who was arrested on charges of accepting more than $14,800 for sending sensitive photos and videos to a Chinese intelligence officer.
Prosecutors said Zhao transmitted "plans for a large-scale maritime training exercise in the Pacific theatre, operational orders and electrical diagrams and blueprints for a Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar system located in Okinawa, Japan".
Zhao was found guilty last year and sentenced to 27 months in prison.
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