Suspected Chinese spies tried to infiltrate military bases in Alaska. According to an Army officer who spoke with USA Today, they were pretending to be tourists.
There have been similar encounters of tourists attempting to enter military bases in Alaska. Oftentimes, the incidents are ruled as mistakes. But other times, the incidents are found to be intentional in order for suspected Chinese spies to gain information on U.S. military sites.
According to first-hand accounts from several soldiers, they witnessed a vehicle with Chinese citizens blowing past a security checkpoint at an Army base in Fairbanks, Alaska. The vehicle was eventually stopped and searched. A drone was found inside. The Chinese citizens claimed to be tourists who were lost.
Alaska is home to some of the Pentagon’s most sophisticated military facilities which can attract foreign spies. But Alaska is also home to wildlife attractions and the Northern lights which attract tourists.
The challenge is deciphering the intentions of someone who claims to be sightseeing, but could also be tapping sensitive military communications.
Attempts by the Chinese Communist Party to spy on the U.S. are rather common according to FBI Director Christopher Wray. He said the FBI opens a new investigation on Chinese espionage every 12 hours.
Wray claims the greatest long-term threat to the U.S. is China. That threat is what makes stories of a Chinese spy balloon hovering over U.S. military bases such a serious breach and why skepticism over the tourism industry persists.
