U.S. Intelligence Warns of China Theft Over Sale of F-35 Jets to Saudis

What the report says

U.S. intelligence agencies are warning that a proposed sale of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia could create an opening for China to obtain sensitive American military technology, according to The New York Times. The report says internal assessments, including one from the Pentagon’s Defense Intelligence Agency, raise concerns that information about the advanced aircraft could be exposed through espionage or through Saudi cooperation with Beijing.

The article centers on the security risks tied to the possible transfer of one of the United States’ most advanced combat aircraft. The F-35 program is closely guarded because it contains stealth, sensor and software capabilities that are considered strategically important by the U.S. military and its allies. Intelligence officials are said to be weighing whether a sale to Riyadh could increase the chances of technical compromise.

The warning comes amid broader U.S. scrutiny of China’s efforts to gather defense and aerospace secrets. In general, analysts have long said that Chinese intelligence targets Western military systems and supply chains, making technology-transfer concerns a recurring issue in major arms sales. The reported assessment underscores how arms cooperation with key partners can also carry counterintelligence risks.

The New York Times’ account did not say whether the sale would proceed or whether the intelligence concerns would alter U.S. policy. It highlights, however, that the debate over the Saudi request is not only about diplomacy and regional security, but also about protecting highly sensitive American technology from potential foreign access.