The New York Times, citing U.S. officials, reported that U.S. intelligence officers, in internal reports, have expressed concern about the possibility of China conducting espionage in connection with the potential sale of dozens of advanced F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia. The value of the deal is $24 billion.

Saudi Arabia and the United States have had military cooperation for several decades, and Riyadh, by a wide margin, is the largest buyer of U.S. arms and defense equipment.

However, Saudi Arabia buys ballistic missiles from China, and China’s army provides support to Saudi Arabia in missile construction, establishing production facilities, and improving missile operations.

A U.S. official said that a recent intelligence report from the U.S. Department of Defense emphasized that only Saudi and American officers and contractors should have access to the sites where F-35 technology is stored. U.S. Department of Defense officials, in particular, have expressed concern about protecting the F-35’s advanced radar and surveillance technology.