Foreign nationals charged for scheme to smuggle US military technology to China
Two foreign nationals, Cui Guanghai from China and John Miller from the United Kingdom, have been charged for their involvement in a scheme to smuggle U.S. military equipment and technology, including missiles, into China. The charges come amid efforts by President Donald Trump and his administration to tighten the visa vetting process for foreigners, particularly those from China.
According to the U.S. Justice Department, Cui and Miller face charges of interstate stalking, conspiracy, smuggling, and violating the Arms Export Control Act. Prosecutors believe that Cui was working on behalf of the Chinese government. Court documents allege that Cui and Miller sought to procure military equipment such as missiles, air defense radar, drones, and cryptographic devices, starting in November 2023.
The two individuals allegedly coordinated with two others, who were actually working with the FBI, to export the cryptographic device to China. They discussed ways to conceal the device in small electronics or ship it to Hong Kong to avoid detection. Cui and Miller even paid a $10,000 deposit for the device. Additionally, they recruited individuals to silence a U.S. citizen critical of Chinese President Xi Jinping by surveilling the citizen, installing a tracking device on their car, slashing their tires, and destroying statues of Xi and his wife.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche stated, \”The defendants targeted a U.S. resident for exercising his constitutional right to free speech and conspired to traffic sensitive American military technology to the Chinese regime. This is a blatant assault on both our national security and our democratic values.\” Cui and Miller were arrested in Serbia in April and are currently detained there, pending extradition to the U.S.
If convicted, they could face up to five years for conspiracy, five years for interstate stalking, 10 years for smuggling, and 20 years for violating the Arms Export Control Act. The Chinese Embassy and the U.K.’s Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
In light of this incident, the State Department has announced initiatives to enhance the screening process for visa applicants from China and Hong Kong. Secretary of State Marco Rubio revealed plans to revise visa criteria to scrutinize future applications more closely. This move aims to prevent similar incidents in the future and protect national security interests.
