US Soldier Admits to Selling Sensitive Defense Information to China

Introduction A US Army intelligence analyst, Sergeant Korbein Schultz, has admitted to providing sensitive defense information to China. Schultz, who had a top-secret security clearance, was arrested in March at Fort Campbell, a military base located on the Kentucky-Tennessee border.

Charges and Guilty Plea Schultz pleaded guilty to several charges, including conspiracy to obtain and disclose national defense information, exporting technical defense data without a license, and bribery of a public official. The Justice Department confirmed these charges in a recent statement.

Details of the Case Schultz sold dozens of sensitive US military documents to an individual in Hong Kong, believing the person was associated with the Chinese government. For his actions, Schultz was paid $42,000. The documents he provided included critical insights on US military strategies and tactics, particularly lessons learned from the Ukraine-Russia conflict that could be applied to Taiwan’s defense.

Impact and Consequences In addition to tactical insights, the documents contained information about Chinese military tactics, US military exercises, and details on various aircraft and missile systems, including the HH-60 helicopter, F-22A fighter jet, and U-2 reconnaissance aircraft.

FBI Statement Robert Wells, the executive assistant director of the FBI’s National Security Branch, highlighted the ongoing threat posed by foreign governments like China, which aggressively target US military personnel and national security information. He assured that the FBI would continue to safeguard critical information from hostile foreign entities.

Sentencing and Similar Cases Schultz faces potentially decades in prison, with his sentencing hearing scheduled for January 23, 2025. His arrest is part of a broader trend, following the arrests of two US Navy sailors in California on charges of spying for China. One of these sailors, Petty Officer Wenheng Zhao, was sentenced to 27 months in prison earlier this year after pleading guilty to conspiring with a foreign intelligence officer and accepting a bribe.