Key takeaways:

• Three US Army soldiers arrested for allegedly selling sensitive military information to China.
• Charges include conspiracy, bribery and theft of government property.
• The arrests highlight serious concerns about national security and protection of military secrets.

The FBI, in collaboration with the Department of Justice (DOJ), has arrested two active-duty U.S. Army soldiers, Jian Zhao and Li Tian, and a former soldier, Ruoyu Duan. These men are accused of engaging in a serious breach of national security by allegedly selling classified military information to individuals linked to China. Announced by the South China Morning Post, the arrests stem from a lengthy investigation revealing that the three were conspiring to transmit sensitive operational capabilities of the U.S. military.

According to court documents, Zhao, stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord along with Tian, is charged with conspiring to obtain and transmit national defense information intended for unauthorized individuals. The DOJ indicated that he had attempted to negotiate the sale of sensitive items including classified hard drives marked as "secret" and "top secret." Both Zhao and Duan are charged with conspiring to commit bribery and theft, indicating a serious compromise of military protocols, as stated by Attorney General Pam Bondi in a statement reported by CBS News.

The FBI detailed that these activities could jeopardize the national security of the United States. Zhao reportedly communicated with co-conspirators about the potential sale of stolen encryption-capable equipment and related military documents, for which he is believed to have received at least $15,000, a figure highlighted in reports from Newsweek and The Hill.

Both the DOJ and the FBI have committed to investigating these incidents thoroughly to prevent further breaches of this nature, highlighting their dedication to maintaining the integrity of national security measures. The ongoing situation emphasizes how important safeguarding military information is in the face of escalating tensions and espionage threats.

For more details on this developing story, refer to the original articles from ABC News and India Times.