The number of incidents involving Chinese nationals being apprehended near sensitive military sites in the United States and its allied countries is on the rise. In the latest such case, Guam police detained seven individuals from the People’s Republic of China (PRC) attempting to enter the island illegally on December 10 and 11.
The arrests coincided with a US missile interceptor test conducted off the island. On December 10, the US military carried out its first-ever ballistic missile interception near Guam, just off the coast of Andersen Air Force Base.
This intensifies concerns about the motives behind such incursions and their potential implications for national security.
While no contraband was discovered in the detainees’ baggage, one of the three individuals arrested on December 10 had an outstanding arrest warrant and was found illegally approaching a US military installation.
On December 11, four more Chinese nationals were found on Tanguisson Beach and near a US military site in northern Guam. All arrests took place close to Andersen Air Force Base, a key strategic military location.
According to the Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency, there have been 152 instances of PRC nationals attempting to enter Guam illegally since 2022. These incidents have raised red flags for security analysts, particularly in light of the growing tensions in the region and the strategic importance of Guam.
In its December 20 assessment, the Institute for the Study of War, a US-based think tank, identified these recent infiltrations as part of a pattern of suspicious activity near US missile launch sites.
The think tank noted that such actions could be part of an espionage campaign to gather intelligence on US military capabilities, particularly those related to missile defense systems.
The US military’s missile launch sites, including those on Guam, are seen as critical to countering the growing threat posed by Chinese missile technology.
Guam, which lies within the second island chain in the Western Pacific, is strategically important for the US.
The island is well within the range of China’s DF-26 intermediate-range ballistic missiles, often referred to as the “Guam Express,” which are capable of targeting US assets in the region.
Rising Spying Cases Tied To Chinese Citizens
In recent months, incidents involving Chinese nationals using drones to photograph US military installations have increased and have raised concerns over potential espionage. On November 30, a Chinese national flew a modified drone over Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, capturing aerial images of the facility.
On December 11, the Department of Justice announced the arrest of Zhou Yinpiao, the PRC national, who was apprehended after his drone was detected flying nearly a mile above the base.
Authorities recovered the drone and discovered photographs of the base on his device. Zhou was arrested at San Francisco International Airport before he could board a flight to China. The FBI is currently investigating the case.
According to the criminal complaint, Zhou reportedly hacked the drone using purchased software to extend its range, and he admitted to having previously faced legal trouble for flying an unauthorized drone in Shanghai’s restricted People’s Square.
This incident follows a series of similar cases across Europe and beyond. On December 9, a Chinese man was apprehended at the Kiel-Wik naval base in northern Germany, where he was found in possession of a camera.
German authorities are considering charges related to the unauthorized photography of military installations, which could pose a security risk. The Kiel base, home to German naval assets and the shipyards of defense giant Thyssenkrupp, which manufactures submarines, is a sensitive site.
In response to the arrest, Beijing issued a warning to Berlin on December 20, condemning what it termed the “manipulation and smearing” of China in spying cases.
Foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian called on Germany to cease using espionage accusations to tarnish China’s image and to protect the rights of Chinese citizens living in the country.
Earlier in October, German authorities arrested a Chinese woman working for a logistics company on suspicion of spying on the country’s defense industry, including activities at Leipzig airport.
In July 2024, three Chinese students were arrested in South Korea for using a drone to film the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, with the drone hovering above the ship for several minutes before being spotted by patrolling soldiers.
Additionally, in the same month, Shi Fengyun, a University of Minnesota graduate student, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor espionage charges for photographing US military sites with a drone.
These cases contribute to an ongoing global debate about the alleged use of Chinese nationals, including students and researchers, in espionage operations aimed at gathering sensitive foreign intelligence.
This has led to increasing calls from politicians in several countries to restrict or limit the entry of Chinese nationals, particularly students, over concerns about national security.
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