Chinese Regime in the Crosshairs: US Cracks Down on Military Tech Smuggling
The US Justice Department has charged two foreign nationals, Cui Guanghai, 43, from China, and John Miller, 63, from the United Kingdom, with attempting to smuggle sensitive American military technology to China. The pair allegedly sought to procure missiles, air defense radar, drones, and cryptographic devices, with Cui believed to be working on behalf of the Chinese government.
According to court documents, Cui and Miller coordinated with undercover FBI agents to export the technology, discussing ways to hide the devices in everyday objects or ship them to Hong Kong to avoid detection. They also allegedly attempted to silence a US citizen who spoke out against Chinese President Xi Jinping, using tactics such as surveillance, tracking devices, and vandalism. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche condemned the defendants’ actions as a “blatant assault on both our national security and our democratic values”.
Cui and Miller face up to 20 years in prison for violating the Arms Export Control Act, and the Justice Department is working with Serbian authorities to extradite them. The charges come as the Trump administration tightens visa vetting for foreigners, particularly those from China, amid concerns over national security and intellectual property theft.
