Chinese individuals, occasionally posing as tourists, have reportedly trespassed onto U.S. military bases and other secure locations several times in recent years, sparking concerns of potential espionage, the Wall Street Journal reported.
These infiltrations, dubbed “gate-crashing” by U.S. officials, range from Chinese nationals crossing into a missile range in New Mexico to supposed scuba divers near a rocket launch site in Florida.
The Defense Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and other agencies reviewed these incidents last year to limit their frequency. The incidents are perceived as attempts to test U.S. military and federal site security practices.
The Chinese Embassy in Washington refuted the allegations, labeling them as “ill-intentioned fabrications.” The incidents have raised enough concern for Representative Jason Crow to suggest the possibility of legislation addressing the issue.
These breaches may be low-level intelligence collection efforts by the Chinese government, according to Emily Harding, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.
While most cases result in trespassing charges, some have led to criminal citations, barring future installation access and escorting the individuals off-base.
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