Two foreign nationals were indicted Friday in California and Wisconsin for allegedly trying to smuggle sensitive U.S. military technology to China and target an American dissident critical of Beijing.

Cui Guanghai, 43, from China, and John Miller, 63, a UK citizen and U.S. permanent resident, face multiple charges, including arms export violations, smuggling, conspiracy, and interstate stalking. If convicted, each could face up to 40 years in prison.

According to U.S. prosecutors, the two began plotting in October 2023, enlisting what they believed were collaborators in the U.S. to intimidate a dissident who had publicly criticized Chinese President Xi Jinping ahead of the APEC summit in San Francisco last November. The individuals they recruited were, in fact, cooperating with the FBI, who recorded the operation.

Cui and Miller allegedly surveilled the dissident, installed a GPS tracker on his car, slashed his tires, and even destroyed sculptures he had created mocking Xi and his wife.

In a separate charge sheet from Wisconsin, prosecutors say that starting in November 2023, Cui and Miller tried to buy U.S. defense equipment, including missiles, radar systems, military-grade drones, and encrypted communications gear. They allegedly paid a $10,000 deposit for the technology—again, unknowingly to FBI informants.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche called the case "a blatant assault on national security and democratic values," adding that the Justice Department would not allow foreign governments to repress individuals or compromise U.S. defense systems.

The FBI’s Dan Bongino echoed those remarks, saying the charges show an effort to "interfere with constitutionally protected free speech" and to "illegally acquire sensitive U.S. military technology."

Extradition proceedings for both suspects are underway in Serbia, where they were arrested.

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