British Man Charged with Spying for China Involving Military Technology
A British national, John Miller, 63, from Tunbridge Wells, has been charged with espionage after allegedly attempting to smuggle sensitive U.S. military technology to China. The U.S. Justice Department announced that Miller, along with co-accused Cui Guanghai, 43, from China, faces multiple serious charges, including interstate stalking, conspiracy, smuggling, and violations of the Arms Export Control Act, the latter potentially carrying a sentence of up to 20 years in prison.
According to court documents, Miller and Guanghai solicited U.S. defense articles, encompassing missiles, drones, and cryptographic devices, for illegal export to China. They reportedly discussed plans to conceal a cryptographic device in a blender, with intentions to first ship it to Hong Kong. The two men are also implicated in a scheme aimed at silencing a critic of Chinese President Xi Jinping, planning to surveil the individual and disrupt their protest at the upcoming Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit in November.
The U.S. is seeking to extradite Miller from Serbia. If convicted, he faces a range of penalties, including five years for conspiracy, an additional five years for interstate stalking, and ten for smuggling. Todd Blanche, Deputy Attorney General, emphasized that the actions of the defendants not only threaten national security but also challenge American democratic values. U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli condemned the targeting of dissenters and affirmed a commitment to hold accountable foreign nationals engaged in criminal activities in the U.S. This case highlights the ongoing concerns over foreign influence and espionage on U.S. soil.
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