Chinese authorities are reportedly holding critical parts of the F-35 stealth fighter jet after shipment components were diverted to Hong Kong. According to Bloomberg, UPS was transporting a cockpit canopy and a weapons bay door coated with radar-absorbing materials from Australia to the U.S. in late May when the shipment was inexplicably redirected. The reasons behind this diversion remain unclear, raising concerns about potential Chinese access to sensitive military technology.

Australia's Defense Minister Richard Marles acknowledged the situation and stated that Australian officials are collaborating with the U.S. and Lockheed Martin to investigate the incident. Marles indicated that, to his knowledge, no classified components were missing from the shipment. Lockheed Martin, UPS, and the Pentagon have not publicly commented on the matter as inquiries continue.

The F-35, produced by Lockheed Martin, is a fifth-generation stealth fighter exclusively sold to trusted U.S. partners and allies, such as Australia, Belgium, and Japan. The U.S. maintains strict control over its distribution, exemplified by excluding Turkey from the program in 2019 following concerns over Russia’s S-400 system potentially compromising the jet’s technology. China has previously targeted F-35-related military information through espionage, causing ongoing national security concerns.

Recently, the U.S. approved a $24 billion sale of F-35 jets to Saudi Arabia, a move already drawing criticism from some congressional members worried about advanced technology leaking to China. Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi emphasized that such sales could expose critical American military technology to the Chinese Communist Party. The diversion of F-35 parts to Hong Kong adds urgency to these security debates amid escalating strategic tensions.