Latest news with #ArmsExportControlAct
Washington Post
a day ago
- Washington Post
U.S. soldier offered Russia classified info on tank weaknesses, FBI says
A U.S. soldier has been arrested for attempting to share classified information about vulnerabilities in the Army's main battle tank with Russia in exchange for citizenship, the Justice Department announced Wednesday evening. Taylor Adam Lee, 22, who is stationed at Fort Bliss in Texas, was charged under the Espionage Act and the Arms Export Control Act, according to the arrest warrant dated Tuesday. The Army did not immediately return a request for Lee's rank and service history.
CBS News
2 days ago
- Politics
- CBS News
U.S. soldier accused of trying to give Russia sensitive Army tank info for citizenship
Federal authorities have arrested an American soldier who allegedly tried to share classified information about the Army's M1A2 Abrams tank with Russia, the Justice Department said. Taylor Adam Lee — a 22-year-old active-duty Army member stationed at Fort Bliss in Texas — was arrested Wednesday and charged under the Espionage Act with attempted transmission of national defense information to a foreign adversary, federal prosecutors said in a statement. He was also charged under the Arms Export Control Act. The Justice Department claimed Lee "transmitted export-controlled technical information on the M1A2 Abrams Tank online and offered assistance to the Russian Federation." Prosecutors accused Lee of trying to swap the information for Russian citizenship. Lee — who held a top secret security clearance — allegedly wrote online earlier this year, "the USA is not happy with me for trying to expose their weaknesses," and, "At this point I'd even volunteer to assist the Russian federation when I'm there in any way." During a July in-person meeting, Lee allegedly handed an SD card with technical data and other information on Abrams tanks to a person who he "believed to be a representative of the Russian government." He also allegedly discussed giving Russia a piece of hardware from the tank, and appeared to deliver the hardware to an El Paso storage unit last week. "Mission accomplished," Lee messaged the person, the Justice Department said. A warrant for his arrest was filed in El Paso federal court on Tuesday. He was arrested and made his initial court appearance the following day. A criminal complaint did not appear to be filed in court as of Wednesday, and it's unclear if Lee is represented by an attorney. "This arrest is an alarming reminder of the serious threat facing our U.S. Army," Brig. Gen. Sean F. Stinchon, the commanding general of Army Counterintelligence Command, said in a statement. Lee's arrest comes as the military grapples with online espionage and leaking threats. Chinese intelligence agents have tried to target U.S. service members online and entice them into offering up sensitive information in exchange for pay, a trend some counterintelligence officials call "virtual espionage," CBS News reported earlier this year. Separately, former Air National Guardsman Jack Teixeira was sentenced to 15 years in prison last year for sharing classified documents about the Russia-Ukraine war on the messaging platform Discord. And a retired Army officer who worked as a civilian Air Force employee pleaded guilty last month to sharing Russia-Ukraine war information on a dating app.
Malaysia Sun
12-07-2025
- Business
- Malaysia Sun
Fighter jet deal with U.S. allies signals regional resistance to China's South China Sea expansion
Kuala Lumpur [Malaysia], July 12 (ANI): In a significant yet understated move to strengthen its air capabilities in the South China Sea, Malaysia has secured U.S. approval to acquire up to 33 F/A-18C/D Hornet fighter jets from Kuwait, a development that signals a quiet but firm recalibration of regional power dynamics, The Eurasian Times reports. The transfer, greenlit under Washington's Arms Export Control Act, marks a strategic U.S. nod to Malaysia's military modernisation without triggering an overt geopolitical showdown with China. Royal Malaysian Air Force Chief General Tan Sri Asghar Khan confirmed the approval on June 17, framing it as a critical upgrade amid rising threats in the Indo-Pacific. Although Malaysia publicly maintains neutrality, this defense boost, covertly supported by the U.S., reveals growing discomfort with China's coercive actions, particularly near Malaysia's maritime and airspace zones. As per The Eurasian Times, Beijing's belligerent behaviour continues to destabilise the region. In May alone, China dispatched 70 warships and two carrier strike groups from the Yellow Sea to the South China Sea, aggressively encircling Taiwan. Similar tactics have been used in Malaysian waters, including the provocative 2021 incursion of 16 Chinese military aircraft, prompting a formal diplomatic protest. With its fighter fleet thinned by the retirement of MiG-29s and BAE Hawks, Malaysia's acquisition of the well-maintained Kuwaiti Hornets--many upgraded with modern radars and electronic warfare systems--fills a glaring defense gap. U.S. support here is neither accidental nor merely logistical; it's part of a broader strategy to empower regional partners without drawing them into formal alliances, The Eurasian Times noted. Even as Malaysia maintains trade and dialogue with Beijing, it continues to face repeated intrusions near Petronas oil rigs off Sarawak, areas claimed under China's illegitimate nine-dash line. Public backlash against China's aggression has grown, exemplified by the 2025 boycott of Chagee tea shops after displaying a map echoing Chinese territorial claims. The Eurasian Times reported that the Hornet deal sends a quiet but unmistakable message: Malaysia, like other middle powers, is preparing for a future where sovereignty cannot rely on diplomacy alone. As tensions simmer, U.S.-backed defense upgrades reflect a growing resolve in Southeast Asia to resist China's creeping expansionism--on Malaysia's terms. (ANI)
Shafaq News
27-06-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
US sanctions Sudan over chemical weapons use
Shafaq News – Washington The United States announced that sanctions targeting Sudan over the alleged use of chemical weapons will officially take effect on Friday, marking a significant escalation in Washington's response to the ongoing conflict in the country. The acting Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security confirmed that Sudan's government used chemical or biological weapons against its own citizens, a violation of international law. Under the sanctions, all non-humanitarian US assistance to Sudan under the 1961 Foreign Assistance Act will be suspended. Only emergency humanitarian aid, food, and agricultural goods are exempt. The measures also prohibit the sale of defense articles, defense services, and construction-related services to Sudan, in line with the Arms Export Control Act. Additionally, all items listed on the US Munitions List are now barred from export. Military financing for Sudan is terminated, and the country is banned from receiving loans, credit guarantees, or financial support from any US agency, including the Export-Import Bank. The sanctions extend to exports of national security-controlled goods and technology listed under the US Commerce Control List (CCL), except in limited, pre-approved cases. A US official noted that some exemptions will be permitted, including applications for licenses to transfer certain defense items to non-governmental actors in Sudan. Export exceptions may also apply for the maintenance of civilian passenger aircraft under previously established guidelines.
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First Post
23-06-2025
- First Post
Mumbai man helped develop B-2 Bomber, then he stole tech from US for China
The case of this man resurfaced recently after satellite images revealed what appears to be a large stealth flying-wing aircraft at a Chinese test facility in Xinjiang. The images show a drone-like craft that's nearly identical to the US B-2 read more A former Indian-born engineer who helped develop the United States' stealth B-2 Spirit bomber later sold its secrets to China, enabling Beijing to make advances in its own stealth aircraft program, according to court documents and declassified reports. Noshir Gowadia, originally from Mumbai, was a propulsion and low-observable technology expert at Northrop (now Northrop Grumman) where he played a critical role in developing the stealth capabilities of the B-2, one of the most advanced bombers in US military history. Gowadia held top security clearance and even taught university-level courses on aeronautics after leaving the defence contractor in 1986. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD But by 2005, he was under investigation by the FBI. Agents found classified documents hidden in a furniture container shipped to him, triggering a probe. Gowadia was arrested in Hawaii and charged under the Arms Export Control Act and the Espionage Act for providing sensitive information to foreign governments, including China, according to a report by Economic Times. Technology transfer raises alarms According to the FBI, Gowadia made multiple trips to China between 2003 and 2004, during which he handed over designs related to infrared-suppression and low-visibility propulsion systems. The information was intended to help China develop cruise missile and bomber technologies. Investigators said Gowadia received at least $110,000 over a span of three years in return. He initially denied the charges but later admitted in a written confession: 'On reflection, what I did was wrong to help the PRC make a cruise missile. What I did was espionage and treason.' In 2010, he was convicted on 14 counts and sentenced the following year to 32 years in federal prison. He is currently incarcerated at the Florence ADX supermax facility in Colorado. His son, Ashton Gowadia, continues to maintain his father's innocence, claiming the FBI withheld key evidence and shaped the narrative during the trial. China's stealth aircraft raises questions The case resurfaced recently after satellite images revealed what appears to be a large stealth flying-wing aircraft at a Chinese test facility in Xinjiang. The images, dated May 14 and reported by The War Zone, show a drone-like craft with an estimated wingspan of 52 meters—nearly identical to the US B-2. The aircraft was spotted near new hangars, suggesting it may be part of China's high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE) program or linked to other next-generation projects like the H-20 stealth bomber or J-36 fighter. The sightings have reignited concerns that China's progress in stealth aviation may have been aided by stolen US defence technology. While the full capabilities of the Chinese platform remain unknown, analysts say it represents a significant step forward. The B-2 Spirit, built by Northrop Grumman, remains one of the most secretive and capable bombers in the US arsenal. Its radar-evading design allows it to penetrate enemy airspace undetected and deliver both conventional and nuclear payloads. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Last week, the US deployed the B-2 in combat operations over Iran for the first time, targeting deeply buried nuclear facilities in Fordow—an action seen as a demonstration of the aircraft's unmatched capabilities. The strike came amid rising regional tensions and may have underscored why China continues to invest heavily in similar technology.
