Chinese National Nabbed for Snapping Photos at USAF Base – RedState
On Wednesday, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri announced that another Chinese national, one Qilin Wu, was caught taking photos of a U.S. Air Force base, as well as taking photos of various equipment.
Wu is accused of photographing U.S. military installations and equipment without authorization.
United States Attorney R. Matthew Price today announced the filing of a criminal complaint against Qilin Wu, 35, in the Western District of Missouri. The complaint accuses Wu of taking photographs of a vital military installation and military equipment without authorization, in violation of U.S. law.
It doesn’t get any better when we look at the details, all laid out in the press release:
The complaint alleges that on December 2, 2025, the Whiteman Air Force Base Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI) investigated a report of a suspicious minivan with a Massachusetts license plate near the perimeter of the military installation. Air Force patrol boats were sent to the area to investigate and encountered Wu, who said he was there to observe the B-2 Spirit aircraft. Patrol officers informed Wu that he was not allowed to take photos or videotape the military installation.
The next day, according to the complaint, AFOSI was informed that the same minivan had again been identified near a perimeter fence at Whiteman Air Force Base. AFOSI agents went to the scene to investigate and reconnected with Wu. Wu admitted to taking videos of the B-2 Spirit aircraft and numerous photographs of Whiteman’s perimeter fence, a gate, and military equipment. Wu showed investigators his phone, including images of Whiteman Air Force Base and military equipment that Wu had recorded. In total, investigators observed 18 images and videos that Wu admitted to taking of the facility and military equipment. Wu also admitted to photographing another US Air Force base and its military aircraft.
There is only one reason why Wu would photograph this base and equipment, including the B-2 bombers: he is collecting intelligence. He may be doing this at the behest of the Chinese Communist Party, or he may be doing it on his own, perhaps with the idea of using the images to curry favor later, after a possible return to China. But he still collects information.
US military bases and equipment seem to be attracting a lot of attention from Chinese photographers recently. U.S. farmland near these military bases also appears to be attracting a lot of attention from Chinese real estate buyers.
Learn more: Warning: US is now China’s ‘number one target’
Two Chinese nationals charged with spying on US Navy
Considered as a model, this looks a lot like gathering intelligence from a hostile nation and possibly positioning resources for possible attack – or at least disruption.
Here is the onion:
According to court documents, Wu is a Chinese national who entered the United States illegally on June 22, 2023, near Nogales, Arizona. At that time, Wu had been arrested by immigration authorities for being in the United States illegally. Due to lack of detention space, Wu was released on his own recognizance pending deportation proceedings originally scheduled for February 9, 2027.
You don’t say.
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