British Businessman Charged in US Spying Plot for China Facing Extradition

John Miller, a 63-year-old British businessman from Tunbridge Wells, has been charged by US authorities with conspiring to smuggle sensitive military technology to China. Arrested in Belgrade during an FBI sting operation, Miller allegedly collaborated with Cui Guanghai, a US-based Chinese national, to procure US defense articles including missile launchers, air defense radars, drones, and secure communication devices for the Chinese military. Intercepted phone calls reveal Miller referred to Chinese President Xi Jinping as "The Boss," indicating his awareness of acting under the Chinese government's direction. The pair also reportedly engaged in a campaign to intimidate a Chinese-American artist critical of Xi, involving surveillance and vandalism ahead of the 2023 APEC summit and Xi's visit to San Francisco. Miller faces extradition to the US, where he could be sentenced to up to 40 years in prison for violations including conspiracy and the Arms Export Control Act. Neighbors describe Miller as a respectable family man, contrasting with the serious national security charges against him.