A report published in a South Korean publication claims that at least one of the three Chinese students who were arrested for unlawfully recording a US aircraft carrier stationed in the country allegedly had ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

Citing unknown South Korean intelligence officials, Korea Joongang Daily reported on December 2 that one of three Chinese students under investigation for filming the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier near the Busan Korea Fleet Command on June 25 may be a member of the Chinese Communist Party. The authorities are currently investigating the potential involvement of the Chinese intelligence agency in the filming. 

The publication further stated that a joint investigation team comprising the National Intelligence Service, the Armed Forces Counterintelligence Command, and the police determined that the three Chinese students who filmed the American nuclear-powered carrier behaved in a coordinated manner under directions from a Chinese Intelligence Agency. 

The report stated that one of the students received the “excellent Communist Party member” recognition at a Chinese university in May 2021. It also noted that the student’s mobile phone forensic examinations revealed multiple Communist Party newsletters and contact information of Chinese public security officials.

According to the report, South Korean intelligence officials suspect the students had been gathering data about American aircraft carriers, significant equipment, and South Korean military bases for a long time and relaying that information to China. “During the actual investigation into the Chinese students, hundreds of photos of South Korean and American military facilities that were taken by the students were discovered,” it noted.

The report, citing the investigative authorities, said that the students filmed the USS Springfield, an American nuclear-powered submarine, and the USS Nimitz, an aircraft carrier that arrived in port between February and March of last year. They also allegedly conducted a preliminary survey of the Busan Korea Fleet Command in September 2022, when its observation was comparatively easy.

However, the South Korean administration has not provided an update on the case.

China Under The Scanner For Spying Again

South Korea announced on July 23 that three Chinese students had been arrested for using a drone to illegally film a US aircraft carrier.

The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier of Carrier Strike Group 9 arrived at Busan Naval Base on June 22 for a naval drill that included Japan, the United States, and South Korea, along with the destroyers USS Halsey and USS Daniel Inouye.

However, tension erupted when it was discovered that three Chinese students had used a drone to record photos and videos of the 100,000-ton carrier on June 25 while it was docked close to the Naval Operations Command’s Busan Operational Base in Yongho-dong, Nam-gu, Busan. The drone hovered over the aircraft carrier for about five minutes until it was detected by the patrolling soldiers.

The Chinese students told the South Korean law enforcement agencies that they had filmed the aircraft carrier out of curiosity about the mammoth carrier. At the time, the investigating authorities said that they did not find any evidence of the footage being disseminated but were continuing the investigation into the motives for the filming.

The students suspected of snooping on the US carrier are reportedly aged between 30 and 49 and were studying in South Korea at the time of the incident.

In July, the Busan police said the suspects were charged with breaking the Enforcement Decree of the Protection of Military Bases and Installations Act. This act states that anyone found taking unapproved photos of military bases or facilities faces a fine of 30 million won (US$21,700) or up to three years in prison.

If the report published by Korea Joongang is factual and a link between the Chinese students and the Chinese intelligence agency is established, it would once again bring China under the scanner for espionage. 

There have been multiple incidents that have underscored the growing threat of drone spying, and most of them have alleged links to China. For instance, reports in April and May of this year indicated that a Chinese drone was purportedly taking pictures and videos of the USS Ronald Reagan at Yokosuka Naval Base in Japan. These images fueled suspicions of espionage against US military activities.

While a US Navy investigation did not find conclusive evidence of drone activity over Ronald Reagan, the incident raised concerns about Chinese spying on military installations in foreign countries.

Around the same time, photos and videos emerged showing Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force facilities in Yokosuka and a video of the helicopter destroyer JS Izumo docked at the base. The Japanese Ministry of Defense confirmed the veracity of a video allegedly captured by a Chinese drone flying above the JS Izumo on May 9, 2024.

In September 2024, a US Congressional investigation discovered that a Chinese company had installed intelligence-gathering equipment on cranes used at US seaports, enabling Beijing to spy on Americans and damage vital infrastructure. 

Chinese enterprises aligned with the Chinese regime are frequently accused of spying on the United States and European countries. China has been accused of exploiting software to conduct cyber espionage against the United States and gain unfettered access to sensitive information in the digital world.

This growing suspicion has led to US officials suspending imports of critical components from China and launching intense screening for Chinese officials hired by US-based companies.

Concerns about Chinese espionage in the US were also raised by a previous report that found Chinese companies had bought a number of farmlands near key US military installations, including some of the most strategically significant ones, including MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida; Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in San Diego, California; Fort Liberty (formerly Fort Bragg) in Fayetteville, North Carolina; and Fort Cavazos (formerly Fort Hood) in Killeen, Texas.

However, drones hovering over sensitive military installations and assets are still the most concerning. This trend also highlights the pressing need for robust countermeasures to safeguard military assets against the growing threat of drone-enabled espionage.

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