US intelligence warns F-35 sale to Saudi Arabia could expose technology to China

US intelligence officials have expressed concerns about selling F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, a longtime military partner, citing the risk that China could gain access to the aircraft's advanced technology through its military ties with Riyadh.

The New York Times reported Wednesday (local time) that US intelligence agencies fear a proposed F-35 sale to Saudi Arabia could allow China to obtain the jet's sensitive technology.

Earlier, President Donald Trump pledged to sell Saudi Arabia F-35s and other advanced weapons during bilateral talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House in November last year.

Despite that commitment, US intelligence officials raised concerns in internal reports about the proposed $24 billion F-35 sale to Saudi Arabia. They warned that China could acquire F-35 technology through espionage operations inside the kingdom or through Beijing's military and security partnerships with Riyadh.

A report produced by the Defense Intelligence Agency months earlier also questioned whether the United States and Saudi Arabia could maintain the security of F-35 technology, pointing to Chinese military access to Saudi bases and the use of Chinese technology within Saudi Arabia's communications infrastructure.

The New York Times said Saudi Arabia purchases ballistic missiles from China and that the Chinese military has been helping the kingdom build missile manufacturing and production facilities.

Officials at the Ministry of National Defense are also concerned about protecting the F-35's advanced technology. Intelligence reports said access to bases where F-35 technology is housed should be restricted to US and Saudi officers and contractors only.

In addition, the intelligence reports raised doubts about whether Saudi Arabia would agree to limit its contacts with Chinese military and intelligence personnel and affiliated organizations, and whether it would remove equipment made by Chinese firms Huawei and ZTE from its communications and defense infrastructure.