WASHINGTON – Thanks, mom.

A China-born US Navy sailor accused of selling sensitive ship information to the Chinese government was denied bail on Tuesday after prosecutors said his mother encouraged him to participate in the scheme.

Jinchao Wei, 22, faces four charges in San Diego federal court related to his alleged deal with an unnamed Chinese military intelligence officer to provide “documents, sketches, plans, notes and information” in exchange for cold, hard cash.

The officer asked Wei in February 2022 to work as an informant as he was applying to become a naturalized citizen.

Despite knowing it could threaten his chances, Wei ultimately agreed to the arrangement, prosecutors said in the Tuesday detention hearing.

In arguing against his release from jail, Assistant US Attorney Fred Sheppard revealed that Wei’s mother, who was not named in court, knew of her son’s treasonous side hustle and encouraged him to continue cooperating because it could lead to a future job in the Chinese government.

The mother, who lives in Wisconsin, made the statement while she hosted her son for Christmas last year, Sheppard said.

Prosecutors argued their relationship and her involvement would increase Wei’s flight risk, and Magistrate Judge Michelle M. Pettit denied the sailor bail.

Officials estimate that Wei made between $10,000 and $15,000 in the arrangement, though the exact amount has not yet been revealed.

As an enlisted machinist mate, the total was equal to at least 20% of Wei’s annual Navy salary.

In court documents, prosecutors alleged the kinds of information Wei allegedly leaked to the Chinese military could “place the national security of the United States, and the safety of the defendant’s fellow US Navy sailors, in jeopardy.”

“Wei provided [the Chinese officer] with information regarding the defense and weapon capabilities of US Navy ships, potential vulnerabilities of these ships and information related to ship movement,” the indictment read.

The case comes at a point when American relations with China – which the Pentagon considers the US’ top adversary, according to the 2022 US Defense Strategy – are increasingly frayed as Beijing rapidly advances its military.

“Wei provided [the Chinese officer] with information regarding the defense and weapon capabilities of US Navy ships, potential vulnerabilities of these ships and information related to ship movement,” the indictment read.

Prosecutors say Wei was aware that the arrangement could threaten US national security and the lives of his fellow sailors.

The same month Wei began working with the Chinese government, he had completed counterintelligence training, “which specifically warned him that foreign adversaries might try to recruit him through, among other avenues, social media and blogs,” according to court documents.

Defense experts told The Post that disclosing such information could allow the Chinese to take advantage not only of the vulnerabilities of Wei’s ship, the amphibious assault vessel USS Essex, but also those of other similar American landing helicopter dock ships.

The large, aircraft carrier-like vessels could be a key tool should war break out between the US and China due to their amphibious capabilities .

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby on Wednesday declined to comment specifically on Wei’s case, citing an “active ongoing investigation and under DOD’s jurisdiction,” but said the issue is one that the Biden administration “obviously take[s] very seriously.”

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