Image Credentials: Image Title: British Man Accused of Spying for China Arrested in US Arms Smuggling Plot Source: (sora.chatgpt) Date: June 2025 Attribution: Created by AI-generated imagery (sora.chatgpt), it does not depict a real-world scene.
By Staff Writer | Washington, D.C. | June 5, 2025
A 63-year-old British man has been arrested and charged in the United States for allegedly operating as a covert agent of the Chinese government, targeting political dissidents and conspiring to smuggle sensitive American military technology to China.
John Miller, a resident of Tunbridge Wells, Kent, is accused of collaborating with Cui Guanghai, a 43-year-old Chinese national, in what U.S. authorities describe as a wide-ranging operation to suppress dissent against President Xi Jinping and unlawfully export restricted defense equipment to the People’s Republic of China.
Both men are currently detained in Serbia, where the U.S. Department of Justice has filed extradition requests. According to unsealed court documents, the duo faces charges including conspiracy, interstate stalking, smuggling, and violations of the Arms Export Control Act — the most serious of which carries a sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison.
The pair’s alleged activities date back to November 2023, when Xi Jinping attended the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in San Francisco. U.S. prosecutors say Miller and Guanghai attempted to sabotage planned protests by targeting known dissidents. In one case, they allegedly placed a GPS tracker on a protester’s vehicle and slashed the car’s tires to intimidate and disrupt the demonstration.
Authorities also claim the men paid over £27,000 to two would-be protesters to pressure them into abandoning plans to livestream a politically satirical art installation that featured statues of Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan.
The indictment further alleges that Miller and Guanghai engaged in illegal arms procurement operations. The two are said to have solicited a shopping list of U.S. defense technology — including missiles, air defense radars, military-grade drones, and cryptographic communication devices — for illegal export to China.
The duo reportedly wired £7,400 to a U.S. account to purchase a cryptographic device complete with ignition keys, intending to smuggle it out of the country concealed in a household appliance, possibly a food blender, and route it through Hong Kong.
According to neighbors, Miller often traveled to the Far East and allegedly referred to President Xi as “The Boss,” suggesting a closer alignment with Chinese authorities than previously known.
U.S. law enforcement and intelligence officials responded with strong condemnation of the plot, characterizing it as an attack on both American national security and democratic values.
“As alleged, the defendants targeted a U.S. resident for exercising his constitutional right to free speech and conspired to traffic sensitive American military technology to the Chinese regime,” said Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche.
“This is a blatant assault on both our national security and our democratic values.”
U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli of California echoed the sentiment, noting that the case marks another instance of transnational repression by foreign powers on U.S. soil.
“Chinese foreign actors targeted a victim in our nation because he criticized the Chinese government and its president. My office will continue to use all legal tools available to hold such foreign nationals accountable.”
FBI Assistant Director Akil Davis warned of growing efforts by authoritarian states to silence opposition globally, adding, “The FBI will not tolerate transnational repression targeting those in the United States who express dissenting opinions about foreign leaders.”
If extradited and convicted, Miller faces:
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5 years for conspiracy
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5 years for interstate stalking
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10 years for smuggling
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Up to 20 years for violating the Arms Export Control Act
No comment has been made by British authorities or legal representatives for Miller at the time of publication.
The case is the latest in a growing list of prosecutions targeting foreign government-backed harassment and espionage campaigns in the U.S., a sign of escalating tensions between Washington and Beijing, particularly over issues of technology theft and suppression of dissent abroad.
With a global network of dissidents, whistleblowers, and critics of authoritarian regimes living in exile, experts warn that the implications of this case stretch far beyond the courtroom.
“This isn’t just about smuggling hardware,” said one analyst. “It’s about the weaponization of fear — and the audacity to export it to American soil.”
Staff Writers at Open Chronicle produce in-depth, field-informed reporting on defense, diplomacy, cultural transformation, and global affairs. Known for clarity, accuracy, and analytical depth, they connect breaking developments to broader historical and strategic contexts. In addition to frontline journalism, Staff Writers also contribute to the Open Chronicle Encyclopedia, crafting authoritative entries that preserve critical knowledge and enrich public understanding.