A Chinese student linked to Beijing's Public Security Ministry was sentenced to prison last week for spying on sensitive communications gear at a major military base in Key West, Florida.
Zhao Qianli, a Chinese national who told the FBI he was a music student visiting Florida as a tourist, was arrested by military police Sept. 26 after taking pictures and video at Naval Air Station Key West. He had waded into the surf along a beach at the base to get around a security fence, according to court papers.
Once inside the fence, Zhou began taking images of communications antennas and equipment at a site called an "antenna farm"—sensitive equipment used by the military, anti-drug, and intelligence agencies at the base.
The base is the southernmost point in the United States and home to Southern Command's Joint Interagency Task Force South, a group engaged mainly in countering illicit trafficking but also charged with intelligence gathering and other military activities.
The base also trains pilots from all services in air-to-air combat. A squadron of F-18 jets and the Army Special Forces Underwater Operations School are located at the base.
Zhao spoke fluent English and carried no identification at the time of his arrest, a sign he was operating covertly and prepared to be detained. He told MPs who confronted him that he was a tourist who was lost and had strayed on the base by accident.
Investigators also discovered Zhao was in touch with Chinese intelligence officers inside the United States before the base intrusion.
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NAS Key West. What a great duty station!
ReplyDeleteI don't miss the dive tank.
DeleteWonder if Feinstein and her Chinese spy worker of 20 years assisted in getting this person a visa.
ReplyDeleteOh, come on, the dive tank was fun!
ReplyDeleteIt's in San Diego lol.
DeleteNorthwest Woodsman: Been in the intelligence and counter intelligence business since the fall of 1963 and while working as a Special Agent for the Department of Defense in the aerospace arena in Southern California in the 70s and early 80s it was a well known fact that the majority if Chinese students attending,US colleges, were involved in espionage. Most were paid by the Chinese government and, of course, colleges were making money so the espionage factor was conveniently overlooked. Almost all were enrolled in technology programs and the real travesty was that aerospace companies hired them and placed them on top secret programs. That I is how a backward nation was able to catch up to the US in its defense programs. Had one female who admitted that her education and Stanford Law School was paid by a Chinese family. Few, if any Chinese families have that kind of cash on hand but the People’s Army certainly did. She was instructed to apply for employment at the CIA. We as a people are so naive and stupid.
ReplyDeleteOh come on, there are Chinese restaurants everywhere in every town. Anyone ever care to notice that? Anyone notice that the normal payment at Chinese restaurants is Debit or Credit cards?
ReplyDeleteThey know everything about us already! Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.....
(snicker snicker - TWO days until TGIF!!!!)
That's it
ReplyDeletethe Chinese made Trump win