A British citizen has been indicted in the United States over claims he attempted to illegally export sensitive American military technology to China, including missile systems, air defence radar, drones, and cryptographic equipment.
John Miller, 63, a British national and permanent US resident, was arrested in Serbia alongside Cui Guanghai, 43, a Chinese national.
Both men are currently being held as the US seeks their extradition.
The charges include conspiracy to commit smuggling, violations of the Arms Export Control Act, and conspiracy to commit interstate stalking.
According to court documents, Miller and Cui are alleged to have tried to acquire and unlawfully export classified defence technologies, including devices for encryption and decryption.
Prosecutors say the pair paid a $10,000 (£7,430) deposit for such equipment and discussed smuggling methods using small electronics, a blender, and a motor starter to evade detection.
In a parallel plot, the men are accused of attempting to intimidate a critic of the Chinese government, including allegedly installing a GPS tracker on the individual’s car and slashing their tyres.
The alleged target was planning to protest against Chinese President Xi Jinping during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Los Angeles in November 2023.
US prosecutors revealed that Miller and Cui allegedly tried to prevent the protest through paid intermediaries.
However, those they approached—identified as “Individuals 1 to 4″—were in fact operatives working with the FBI, according to the indictment.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche described the case as a “blatant assault” on US national security, stating:
“This Justice Department will not tolerate foreign repression on US soil, nor will we allow hostile nations to infiltrate or exploit our defence systems.”
If convicted, Mr Miller faces up to 20 years in prison under the Arms Export Control Act, and an additional 10 years for smuggling offences.
The indictment outlines how the pair allegedly sought to circumvent US export laws by working with covert contacts and concealing military-grade items within ordinary household goods.
A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) confirmed consular assistance is being provided to Mr Miller following his arrest in April, and said British officials are “in touch with the local authorities and his family”.
The indictment also accuses the pair of targeting a second planned protest in spring 2025, where the same victim intended to unveil satirical statues of President Xi and his wife in an online broadcast.
FBI-affiliated individuals were again paid $36,000 (£26,745) to suppress the display, unbeknownst to the suspects.
US Attorney Bill Essayli for the Central District of California commented: “Foreign nationals who engage in criminal conduct and repression on American soil will be held to account using every tool at our disposal.”
Both men remain in custody in Serbia as extradition proceedings continue, with US authorities coordinating with Serbian officials.
The US Attorney’s Office noted that “an indictment is merely an allegation”, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
