Bill Essayli, the United States District Attorney for the Central District of California, isn’t just focusing on illegal activities by foreign nationals in Southern California. His office is also delving into a concerning case involving a dual citizen of China and the U.S., Chenguang Gong, who has been involved in stealing sensitive military technology. The extent of this case is alarming, revealing a significant breach of national security.
The Department of Justice recently announced that Gong has pleaded guilty to stealing trade secrets. He was employed at a research and development company in Los Angeles in 2023, where he worked on designing integrated circuits. Over a period of about a month, Gong transferred over 3,600 files from his work laptop to USB drives, with about 1,800 of those files taken after he had accepted a job with a competitor.
This isn’t just any case of stealing trade secrets; we’re talking about classified military technology here. Gong’s work involved circuits designed to detect missile launches from space and track them. He also took vital designs for systems that help aircraft identify and evade incoming threats, even in challenging conditions.
The files Gong took included plans for advanced infrared sensors meant for space-based systems. These sensors are crucial for detecting nuclear missile launches and other threats. Some of these sensitive files were discovered on storage devices in Gong’s temporary residence in Thousand Oaks.
Gong’s theft wasn’t just limited to current technology but also included designs for next-generation sensors. These sensors are capable of spotting hard-to-detect targets and are crucial for maintaining U.S. military superiority. The value of these stolen secrets is estimated to be in the hundreds of millions of dollars.
It turns out that Gong had been involved in similar activities for years. From 2014 to 2022, he worked for various tech companies in the U.S. while also applying for Chinese talent programs. These programs aim to identify individuals with expertise in advanced sciences and technology to strengthen China’s military and economic position.
In 2014, Gong pitched a business proposal to a high-tech institute in China. He detailed plans to produce advanced converters, similar to those made by his then-employer in the U.S. In 2020, Gong submitted another application to develop image sensors for military night vision goggles.
Gong’s activities weren’t limited to applications and proposals; he physically traveled to China seeking funding. He claimed that the converters he wanted to develop had military applications, emphasizing their importance for radar and missile systems. In a 2019 email, Gong admitted to taking risks by participating in these programs due to his employment with an American defense company.
According to Gong’s plea agreement, his actions caused an economic loss of over $3.5 million to the company he was fired from in 2023. However, this figure doesn’t account for the damage done to other organizations he previously worked for. The breach of sensitive defense information raises questions about the impact on national security.
The U.S. government is taking steps to address such breaches. The USDA is working to reclaim American farmland bought by Chinese entities, and the Department of Defense is reconsidering security clearances for Chinese engineers involved in defense projects. The concern is how many other individuals like Gong might be hidden within American institutions.
This case highlights the challenges of identifying and rooting out foreign infiltration and corruption. It serves as a reminder of the need for vigilance in protecting national security interests. Gong’s actions are seen as a betrayal, and despite pleading guilty, he was released on a substantial bond while awaiting sentencing.
Erica Carlin is an independent journalist, opinion writer and contributor to several news and opinion sources. She is based in Georgia.