Washington - Two United States Navy sailors have been apprehended by authorities on accusations of providing sensitive national security information to China. The incident came to light on Thursday when US officials disclosed the details.

Among the individuals facing charges is Petty Officer Wenheng Zhao, aged 26, who has been accused of engaging in conspiracy and accepting bribes. The allegations relate to his acceptance of nearly $15,000 in exchange for sharing photographs and videos containing classified information about the US military. Jinchao Wei, another US Navy sailor implicated in the affair, had charges brought against him for conspiring to transmit national defense data to China in return for a substantial sum of money.

Assistant Attorney General Matt Olsen conducted a press conference in San Diego, where he conveyed that due to the actions of these individuals, "sensitive military info ended up in the hands of the People's Republic of China."

Zhao's alleged actions are reported to have encompassed forwarding plans for US military maneuvers in the Indo-Pacific region, along with electrical schematics and blueprints of a radar system situated on a US military installation in Okinawa, Japan. He is also accused of divulging security particulars concerning US naval facilities located in Ventura County and San Clemente Island near Los Angeles.

Wei, on the other hand, is accused of disclosing classified details about the USS Essex, an amphibious assault ship on which he was stationed. This includes divulging technical manuals that outlined the ship's weaponry, power configuration, and operational protocols.

Efforts to locate contact information for Wei and Zhao have proven unfruitful as of now.

During the press conference, US officials vehemently condemned China's espionage activities. FBI Special Agent Stacey Moy expressed a grave concern, stating that "There is no bigger, multigenerational threat to the United States" than China. She went on to emphasize that Beijing "will stop at nothing to attack the United States in its strategic plan to become the world's sole superpower."

The Chinese Embassy in Washington refrained from immediate comment when reached for a response to the allegations.

Tensions between the United States and China have been strained for a considerable period, fueled by various issues ranging from national security to trade matters. The US has frequently accused China of espionage and cyberattacks, charges that Beijing has consistently denied. Conversely, China has asserted its vulnerability to espionage threats.