British man charged over plot to smuggle US military technology to China

A British man has been charged after allegedly trying to smuggle US military technology to China and organising the stalking and harassment of a Beijing critic.

John Miller, 63, and Chinese national Cui Guanghai were indicted on Friday by federal grand juries in Milwaukee and Los Angeles. The Department of Justice said they had been charged with interstate stalking and conspiracy to commit interstate stalking and conspiracy, smuggling, and violations of the Arms Export Control Act.

Deputy attorney general Todd Blanche said: "As alleged, the defendants targeted a US resident for exercising his constitutional right to free speech and conspired to traffic sensitive American military technology to the Chinese regime. "This is a blatant assault on both our national security and our democratic values." "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.

The indictment says the pair installed a tracking device on the victim's car and slashed its tyres. They are also alleged to have bought and destroyed artistic statues created by the victim depicting China's President Xi Jinping and President Xi's wife.

Cui, 43, and Miller paid two other individuals around $36,500 (£27,100) to convince the victim to stop displaying his statues online, the indictment adds. Read more from Sky News:UK to build weapons factories in push to rearmClashes in Paris after PSG's Champions League winSeven killed after two bridges collapse in Russia Cui and Miller face the following maximum penalties if convicted: five years in prison for conspiracy; five years in prison for interstate stalking; 20 years in prison for violation of the Arms Export Control Act; and 10 years in prison for smuggling.

The two men are in Serbia and the US are coordinating with Serbian officials regarding extraditions. A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson said: "We are providing consular assistance to a British national following his arrest in Serbia in April and are in touch with the local authorities and his family.".