What these sailors provided is just very elementary information. These information isn't highly sensitive or has high value. Many sailors probably would have posted such information in their chat groups to brag. Unless, this Chinese spy agent is looking to build a long term relationship with these guys and hoping these guys in the future could provide more valuable information. Paying for such information isn't worth it.
Either the spy agent is just fishing for any information or the charge is trumped up. However, it does look bad for Chinese Americans either ways. Remember that so many Chinese American scientists were falsely prosecuted for no reason just because of their ethnicity. Many of them were only able to clean their name after their career and lives are ruined. Right now, if FBI or CIA decided to go after soft target such as these little guys, it would further incite prejudice and hatred against Chinese Americans.