Latest news with #ArmsControlAct
NDTV
6 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
British Man Charged Over Plot To Smuggle US Military Tech To China, Called Xi Jinping "The Boss"
A 63-year-old British man has been charged with attempting to smuggle US military technology to China and orchestrating the stalking and harassment of a Beijing critic. According to the BBC, John Miller and his co-defendant, 43-year-old Chinese national Cui Guanghai, are wanted by the FBI for alleged conspiracy, smuggling, and Arms Control Act violations. Both men, a British national and a Chinese citizen, were arrested in Serbia and face potential extradition to the US. The UK Foreign Office is providing consular assistance to Miller, liaising with local authorities and his family. Both "solicited the procurement of US defence articles, including missiles, air defence radar, drones, and cryptographic devices with associated crypto ignition keys for unlawful export from the United States to the People's Republic of China", according to the US Attorney's Office issued court documents. According to the documents, John Miller and Cui Guanghai allegedly discussed exporting a device used for encryption and decryption, paying a $10,000 deposit for the equipment. They are also accused of harassing an anti-Chinese government protester, including tracking their car and slashing their tires. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche described the alleged actions as a "blatant assault" on US national security and democratic values. "This is a blatant assault on both our national security and our democratic values. This Justice Department will not tolerate foreign repression on US soil, nor will we allow hostile nations to infiltrate or exploit our defence systems," he said. "The defendants allegedly plotted to harass and interfere with an individual who criticised the actions of the People's Republic of China while exercising their constitutionally protected free speech rights within the United States of America," added FBI deputy director Dan Bongino. Notably, John Miller, a UK-based recruitment specialist, allegedly referred to Chinese President Xi Jinping as "the boss" in intercepted phone calls. He was caught in a sting operation after discussing plans with undercover FBI agents posing as arms dealers. If convicted, John Miller and Cui Guanghai could face up to 20 years in prison under the US Arms Export Control Act and 10 years for smuggling.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
British businessman accused of plotting to smuggle US military technology to China
A British businessman has been indicted in the US with attempting to traffic sensitive American military technology to China and silence a critic of the Chinese president. John Miller, 63, was named by US authorities at the weekend after his arrest in Serbia, where he is facing extradition in connection with an FBI investigation. The Mail on Sunday reported that he was from Tunbridge Wells, Kent. Both he and a Chinese man, Cui Guanghai, are wanted in the US on charges relating to conspiracy to commit interstate stalking and conspiracy, smuggling and violations of the Arms Control Act. Both were named in US court documents, which included allegations that they had discussed ways to smuggle encryption technology out of the US and into China. The documents allege they paid a $10,000 deposit for a cryptographic device via a courier in the US. The same documents also allege that, beginning in November 2023, they had sought to buy 'US defense articles, including missiles, air defense radar, drones, and cryptographic devices' for unlawful export to China. The alleged plot involved them having discussions with other people – identified in the US court documents as 'Individual 5' and 'Individual 6' – about smuggling the encryption technology in small electronics, a blender and a motor starter. Miller is also accused with Cui of plotting with two other individuals to prevent a US resident from protesting against Xi Jinping's attendance at the Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation (Apec) summit in Los Angeles in November 2023. The alleged target was said to have previously made public statements in opposition to the policies and actions of the Chinese government and President Xi. In the weeks leading up to the Apec summit, Cui and Miller are alleged to have directed and coordinated a plot to surveil the victim, install a tracking device on their car, slash the tyres on their car and then purchase and destroy a pair of artistic statues created by the victim depicting President Xi and his wife. The two individuals with whom they had allegedly conspired in relation to this were in fact 'acting at the direction of the FBI'. In spring last year, the alleged victim announced that he planned to make public an online video feed depicting two new artistic statues of President Xi and his wife. Miller and Cui are alleged to have paid two other individuals, who were also working with the FBI, approximately $36,500 to convince the alleged victim to desist from the online display of the statues. The US deputy attorney general, Todd Blanche, said: 'This is a blatant assault on both our national security and our democratic values. This justice department will not tolerate foreign repression on US soil, nor will we allow hostile nations to infiltrate or exploit our defence systems.' The FBI deputy director, Dan Bongino, said: 'The defendants allegedly plotted to harass and interfere with an individual who criticised the actions of the People's Republic of China while exercising their constitutionally protected free speech rights within the United States of America.' Miller, a permanent US resident, and Cui were named in indictments returned by federal grand juries in Milwaukee and Los Angeles. Miller was arrested in Belgrade on 24 April. If convicted they face maximum penalties of five years in prison for conspiracy, five years in prison for stalking, 20 years in prison for violation of the US Arms Export Control Act and 10 years in prison for smuggling. The US Department of Justice said it was coordinating with Serbian authorities regarding the pending extraditions of Cui and Miller from Serbia.
