Focus on the BIG picture.
Tuesday, Jun 03, 2025
Outside the box.
British Businessman Charged with Smuggling US Military Technology to China
John Miller faces severe charges in connection with a scheme to export sensitive military technology and suppress dissent against the Chinese government.
John Miller, a 63-year-old businessman from Tunbridge Wells, Kent, has been indicted in the United States for allegedly attempting to smuggle sensitive American military technology to China and for engaging in efforts to silence a critic of Chinese President Xi Jinping.
His arrest took place in Serbia, where he is currently facing extradition, as part of an ongoing investigation led by the FBI.
Miller, along with a Chinese national named Cui Guanghai, is wanted in the U.S. on multiple charges.
These include conspiracy to commit interstate stalking and conspiracy, smuggling, and violations of the Arms Control Act.
Both individuals were formally named in U.S. court documents, which outline their alleged coordination to export encryption technology illegally.
According to court documents filed in federal courts, Miller and Cui are accused of discussing methods to smuggle U.S. encryption technology to China, including a transaction where they purportedly made a $10,000 deposit for a cryptographic device.
Furthermore, in late 2023, they allegedly sought to procure various U.S. defense articles, including missiles, air defense radar, drones, and cryptographic devices for illicit export to China.
The documents reveal that the accused plotted to transport the encryption technology hidden within small electronics, such as a blender and a motor starter.
In addition, Miller and Cui are implicated in orchestrating a harassment campaign against a U.S. resident who had publicly criticized the Chinese government's actions and policies.
This campaign reportedly involved plans to surveil the individual, install a tracking device on their vehicle, and damage their property.
The planned harassment escalated in the lead-up to the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Los Angeles, with the accused allegedly coordinating efforts to sabotage the critic’s planned protest against President Xi Jinping's participation.
The court documents indicate that they conspired with two other individuals, who were in fact cooperating with the FBI.
In the spring preceding the APEC summit, the alleged victim publicly announced intentions to showcase an online video feed featuring two new artistic statues of President Xi and his wife.
Miller and Cui allegedly directed the accomplices to pay approximately $36,500 to persuade the critic to abandon their plans to display the statues.
U.S. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche commented that the case reflects a severe breach of national security and a direct threat to democratic values, asserting that the Justice Department will actively combat foreign suppression on U.S. soil.
Meanwhile, Dan Bongino, Deputy Director of the FBI, emphasized the importance of protecting free speech rights within the United States against foreign interference.
Miller is a permanent resident in the U.S., and both he and Cui face serious charges, including potential prison sentences up to 20 years for violations of the Arms Export Control Act.
They were indicted by federal grand juries in Milwaukee and Los Angeles, and efforts are underway for their extradition from Serbia to the United States, as confirmed by the Department of Justice.
His arrest took place in Serbia, where he is currently facing extradition, as part of an ongoing investigation led by the FBI.
Miller, along with a Chinese national named Cui Guanghai, is wanted in the U.S. on multiple charges.
These include conspiracy to commit interstate stalking and conspiracy, smuggling, and violations of the Arms Control Act.
Both individuals were formally named in U.S. court documents, which outline their alleged coordination to export encryption technology illegally.
According to court documents filed in federal courts, Miller and Cui are accused of discussing methods to smuggle U.S. encryption technology to China, including a transaction where they purportedly made a $10,000 deposit for a cryptographic device.
Furthermore, in late 2023, they allegedly sought to procure various U.S. defense articles, including missiles, air defense radar, drones, and cryptographic devices for illicit export to China.
The documents reveal that the accused plotted to transport the encryption technology hidden within small electronics, such as a blender and a motor starter.
In addition, Miller and Cui are implicated in orchestrating a harassment campaign against a U.S. resident who had publicly criticized the Chinese government's actions and policies.
This campaign reportedly involved plans to surveil the individual, install a tracking device on their vehicle, and damage their property.
The planned harassment escalated in the lead-up to the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Los Angeles, with the accused allegedly coordinating efforts to sabotage the critic’s planned protest against President Xi Jinping's participation.
The court documents indicate that they conspired with two other individuals, who were in fact cooperating with the FBI.
In the spring preceding the APEC summit, the alleged victim publicly announced intentions to showcase an online video feed featuring two new artistic statues of President Xi and his wife.
Miller and Cui allegedly directed the accomplices to pay approximately $36,500 to persuade the critic to abandon their plans to display the statues.
U.S. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche commented that the case reflects a severe breach of national security and a direct threat to democratic values, asserting that the Justice Department will actively combat foreign suppression on U.S. soil.
Meanwhile, Dan Bongino, Deputy Director of the FBI, emphasized the importance of protecting free speech rights within the United States against foreign interference.
Miller is a permanent resident in the U.S., and both he and Cui face serious charges, including potential prison sentences up to 20 years for violations of the Arms Export Control Act.
They were indicted by federal grand juries in Milwaukee and Los Angeles, and efforts are underway for their extradition from Serbia to the United States, as confirmed by the Department of Justice.
