"We stand ready to 5hold accountable those who would 6betray the public trust." 

22-year-old Jinxiao Wei and 26-year-old Weng Hao Zhao are 7accused of 8passing along 9national defense information to Chinese intelligence 10in exchange for money. 

"When a soldier or sailor chooses cash over country and 11hands over national defense information in an 12ultimate 13act of betrayal. we have to be ready to act." 

Speaking at a 14press conference Thursday, in San Diego, federal officials outlined details about the 15charges. Wei, who became a U.S. Citizen in 2022, is alleged to have sent documents, photos, videos, and technical manuals to China. And Zhao is accused of providing sensitive U.S. military information including operational plans for a major military exercise. 

"We will not 16tolerate any 17attempts to 18undermine the 19sanctity and 20democratic freedoms of this great nation." 

This is just the latest case of possible spying 21tactics by China earlier this year. The U.S. accused the Chinese government of using a surveillance balloon to capture imagery on U.S. military sites. Following this recent 22incident, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy accused the U.S. government of hyping cases of espionage and said this is a 23groundless 24slander and 25smear of China. The incident putting further pressure on an already 26strained relationship.