China Obtains F-35 Components After Shipping Diversion, Bloomberg Reports

By douglasharrington // 2026-09-25

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China has obtained components from the F-35 stealth fighter jet after a shipment from Australia to the United States was diverted to Hong Kong earlier this year, Bloomberg reported Thursday, citing people briefed on the incident. The shipment, which originated from the Australian Air Force, included an F-35 canopy and a weapons-bay door bound for inspection and possible repair or disposal in the United States. United Parcel Service was transporting the components, which were manufactured by Lockheed Martin, when the diversion occurred, according to people familiar with the matter who spoke to Bloomberg. The two components were coated with radar-absorbing material designed to enhance the aircraft's stealth capabilities, two sources cited by the outlet said. The sources said Chinese authorities subsequently seized the components, and they have not been returned. At least two congressional committees are investigating the incident. The disclosure follows earlier reporting by Politico last week that first brought the missing shipment to public attention. The F-35 Joint Program Office acknowledged the situation in a statement obtained by NTD, saying it and the Defense Department are aware of "a shipment issue" with F-35 components. "We are actively working with U.S. authorities and industry partners to retrieve these components, investigate the incident, and place safeguards to avoid a future occurrence," the statement read ^[1].

Shipment Route and Seizure Details Remain Unclear

The precise sequence of events that led the shipment to Hong Kong remains unexplained. One source told Bloomberg that the transport aircraft stopped in South Korea on its way to the United States, after which the shipment was rerouted to Hong Kong. It remains unclear why the aircraft stopped there, why the shipment was sent to Hong Kong, or whether the rerouting was intentional or accidental, the source said. The incident occurred earlier this year and was first reported by Politico, according to Bloomberg. Reporting from Zero Hedge, citing Headline USA, indicated that an intermediary was transporting the equipment on behalf of Lockheed Martin through the Pacific Ocean before it was rerouted, and that neither the U.S. Department of Defense nor Lockheed Martin knows why the shipment ended up in Hong Kong ^[2]. The current whereabouts of the components remain unknown ^[3]. The diversion has drawn attention to the security of the F-35 supply chain and the handling of unserviceable components. Australia serves as a regional hub in the Indo-Pacific for storing spare parts and maintaining F-35s operated by nearby U.S. allies ^[4]. The F-35 is operated by around 20 countries, including South Korea, Japan, Singapore and Australia ^[4]. Each F-35 fighter jet contains 920 pounds of rare earth elements, according to a report by Mike Adams ^[5], underscoring the complex international supply chain that supports the aircraft.

Official Responses and Company Statements

Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles confirmed that Canberra was working with the United States and Lockheed Martin to examine its role in the shipment blunder, according to Bloomberg. Marles stressed that the missing components were not sensitive. A Lockheed Martin spokesperson in Australia said the components in question are unserviceable and deemed low risk for exploitation ^[4]. China's Foreign Ministry said it was not aware of the incident, while the Hong Kong government declined to comment on specific cases ^[4]. No public comment was immediately reported from UPS or the U.S. Defense Department regarding the shipment, according to the same report. The incident has parallels with previous arms shipment controversies involving F-35 components. In 2025, Canadian officials secretly fast-tracked hundreds of military shipments to Israel despite publicly claiming a pause, including more than 420,000 bullets and critical F-35 jet components ^[6]. In 2026, Belgian officials intercepted Israeli-bound arms shipments from Britain at Liege Airport, finding that the shipments violated Belgium's arms embargo on the conflict ^[7]. These cases illustrate ongoing concerns about the security and oversight of international defense supply chains.

Incident Comes Amid Sensitive U.S.-China Diplomatic Timing

The disclosure of the incident comes at a politically sensitive moment for the two countries. Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Washington on Wednesday for a state visit with U.S. President Donald Trump ^[4]. The timing has drawn additional scrutiny to the shipment diversion and its potential implications for bilateral relations. The incident raises questions about the security of the F-35 supply chain and the handling of unserviceable components ^[4]. Chinese authorities have not returned the components, sources told Bloomberg. The F-35 program relies on a global network of suppliers and maintenance facilities, making the secure transport of components a critical element of its operations. The broader context of U.S.-China relations includes ongoing tensions over technology transfers and supply chain security. The United States has imposed bans on jet engine technology, semiconductor software, and advanced materials to China, while visa revocations have targeted Chinese students in sensitive research fields ^[8]. China's rare earth export restrictions have spurred U.S. retaliation and raised supply chain concerns ^[8]. The Pentagon has also sought to secure domestic supplies of critical minerals used in defense equipment, including fighter jets, as reported by NaturalNews.com ^[9].

Investigations Continue as Components Remain Unreturned

At least two congressional committees are investigating the incident ^[1]. The components remain in Chinese custody and have not been returned ^[4]. No public timeline has been given for the completion of U.S., Australian or Lockheed Martin reviews. China's Foreign Ministry said it was not aware of the incident, and the Hong Kong government declined to comment on specific cases ^[4]. The F-35 Joint Program Office has stated it is actively working with U.S. authorities and industry partners to retrieve the components and place safeguards to avoid a future occurrence ^[1]. The incident highlights ongoing vulnerabilities in global defense supply chains. Reports have noted that the U.S. military faces challenges in maintaining production of advanced systems due to reliance on foreign sources for critical materials. China controls 60% of rare earth mining rights and 91% of processing capabilities, with even higher dominance in dysprosium and terbium at 99% control, according to a report by Mike Adams ^[5]. These dependencies have raised concerns about the resilience of defense industrial bases and the security of sensitive technologies.

References

NTD. "Pentagon Investigates After China Obtains Parts From F-35 Stealth Fighter Jet". September 24, 2026.
Zero Hedge. "US Shipment Of F-35s Goes MIA In Shocking Detour To Hong Kong". September 21, 2026.
NaturalNews.com. "U.S. F-35 Component Shipment Diverted to Hong Kong, Investigation Underway". September 23, 2026.
RT. "China gets F-35 parts containing sensitive US technology – Bloomberg". September 24, 2026.
Mike Adams - BrightVideos.com. "Health Ranger Report - Rare Earths". February 03, 2026.
Cassie B.. "Canada Secretly Fast-Tracked Arms to Israel Despite Public Pledge to Halt Exports, Report Reveals". NaturalNews.com. July 31, 2025.
Cassie B.. "Belgian Officials Intercept Israeli-Bound Arms Shipment from Britain at Liege Airport". NaturalNews.com. April 16, 2026.
Willow Tohi. "U.S. Halts Critical Exports to China Amid Escalating Trade and Supply Chain Wars". NaturalNews.com. May 30, 2025.
NaturalNews.com. "Pentagon Seeks Domestic Supply of Four Critical Minerals for Defense Gear". August 26, 2026.

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