China has taken possession of components from an F-35 stealth fighter jet that were diverted to Hong Kong while being shipped from Australia to the United States, according to a Bloomberg report, citing people familiar with the matter.
The reported incident has raised concerns that Beijing could gain access to sensitive technology used in the highly classified weapons system and has prompted briefings for congressional staff in Washington.
The shipment included a cockpit canopy and a weapons-bay door from an Australian military F-35 that was being sent to the US for inspection and possible repair or disposal, according to sources quoted in the report.
The incident comes as Chinese President Xi Jinping is scheduled to arrive in the US on Wednesday for a state visit with President Donald Trump.
UPS was transporting the parts on behalf of an intermediary working for F-35 manufacturer Lockheed Martin, the people said. Both components were coated with radar-absorbing material designed to enhance the aircraft’s stealth capabilities, according to sources quoted in the report.
The shipment stopped in South Korea while travelling to the US before being rerouted to Hong Kong, one person said. The reasons for the stop and diversion remain unclear, as does whether the redirection was intentional or accidental.
Two people said the Chinese government later took possession of the parts and had not returned them. Other sources said it was unclear who currently held the equipment.
Pentagon Confirms Shipment Problem
The Pentagon’s F-35 Joint Program Office confirmed that it was aware of an issue involving the shipment. The office said it was “aware of a shipment issue of unserviceable F-35 Lightning II components”.
It added that it was working with US authorities and industry partners “to retrieve these components, investigate the incident, and place safeguards to avoid a future occurrence”.
The incident prompted a series of briefings for congressional staff on key national security committees, according to three people familiar with the matter.
State Department and Pentagon officials first briefed staff in June, the sources said, with further briefings expected in the coming weeks.
Concerns Over F-35 Technology
The shipment included one of the aircraft’s canopies, which covers the cockpit and contains stealth technology that only the US and its allies have access to, according to two people. The sources said an adversary could study the components and potentially reverse-engineer the technology if it gained access to one of the canopies.
The reported diversion to Hong Kong has heightened concerns over the possibility of Chinese access to the equipment. Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China, where Beijing has tightened its control in recent years through national security laws and changes to the territory’s political system.