• A former U.S. Navy sailor, Jinchao Wei, sentenced to over 16 years in prison.
• Convicted of selling sensitive military information to a Chinese intelligence officer.
• Wei was paid more than $12,000 for the classified data, including manuals for Navy ships.
• US officials emphasize the ongoing risks posed by espionage from foreign intelligence services.
• Wei's actions reflect broader concerns about national security threats from China.

Jinchao Wei, a former U.S. Navy sailor, was sentenced to more than 16 years in prison for his role in selling sensitive military secrets to a Chinese intelligence officer, according to South China Morning Post and CBS News. A federal judge imposed a 200-month sentence after a jury found Wei guilty of six charges, including **espionage**. Wei, who worked on the amphibious assault ship USS Essex, was convicted based on allegations he sold military manuals for over $12,000, according to Al Jazeera.

Wei, 25, was recruited in 2022 through social media by an individual posing as a naval enthusiast connected to the state-owned China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation. Prosecutors stated that Wei, despite suspecting the recruiter's motives, proceeded to communicate through encrypted apps to share classified information about Navy operations over 18 months, according to Los Angeles Times and South China Morning Post.

During his correspondence with the intelligence officer, Wei revealed sensitive details about various U.S. Navy ships, including their locations and defensive weapons. He also distributed 60 technical and operational manuals, which contained sensitive data about military systems, further risking national security, as noted by CBS News and Al Jazeera.

Evidence highlighted Wei's awareness of the espionage threat, as he acknowledged to a friend that the recruiter's behavior was "extremely suspicious." Nonetheless, he chose to proceed with sharing information, reflecting a serious breach of duty, according to Los Angeles Times and CBS News.