Between drones, hackers, and possibly even purchasing a hotel, it appears that China will go to great lengths to gain any insight into foreign-made military hardware.
Four Chinese officials were arrested in Greece earlier this month, accused of photographing “sensitive military installations” outside of Athens. It is just the latest incident that involved Chinese citizens allegedly snapping photos or recording videos of foreign military hardware and military facilities.
A Chinese family, including a 15-year-old boy and a middle-aged friend, were arrested after taking photos near the Tanagra Air Base. The group had previously been asked to stop taking pictures of the nearby Hellenic Aerospace Industries (HAI) facility. They were spotted on a nearby bridge, continuing to photograph the base, and notably of the Hellenic Air Force’s French-made Dassault Rafale fighter aircraft.
“The case quickly attracted the attention of Greece’s National Intelligence Service (EYP), which opened an investigation,” AeroTime reported.
This incident comes just days after the French military and intelligence officials accused China of spreading disinformation about the Rafale omnirole fighter, after at least one was shot down in the brief border conflict between India and Pakistan in early May. The French officials suggested that Beijing was seeking to “hammer the reputation and sales of France’s flagship fighter.”
China Is Using Tourists to Spy on Military Installations
This is just the latest incident involving supposed “Chinese tourists” who have seemed to photograph or record a video of sensitive military hardware.
A Chinese national was arrested last December at the San Francisco International Airport before boarding a China-bound flight. Yinpiao Zhou, aged 39, was charged with failure to register an aircraft and violation of national defense airspace. He allegedly flew a drone over Vandenberg Space Force Base (SFB) in California and took photos of the facility.
Last year, a drone was suspected of flying over the US Navy’s Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) when the warship was in port in Yokosuka, Japan. A video of the carrier’s flight deck was shared on social media in the spring of 2024, along with photos of the US base.
Just months later, three Chinese students were also accused of employing a small drone to illegally record a video of another Nimitz-class carrier, USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71), while it made a port call at the South Korean Naval Operations Command (NOC) in the southeastern city of Busan. Even more worrisome was the fact that the video of CVN-71 was recorded the same day that then-South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol visited the warship. It is unknown whether the drone was spotted at the time.
Another drone was suspected of recording the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force’s (JMSDF’s) JS Izumo when the warship was at the JMSDF Yokosuka Base in Kanagawa Prefecture, south of Tokyo.
China May Have Bought a Hotel to Spy on a Swiss Airbase
It is not just drones that have raised concerns among Western security officials. Last year, The Wall Street Journal reported that a Chinese family purchased the Hotel Rössli, a century-old lodge in the Alpine valley, in 2018. The hotel, which was purchased for $1 million, offered great views of the Reichenbach Falls from the front.
However, it was what could be seen from the building’s rear windows that raised concerns for US officials. The hotel also provided a clear view of Meiringen Air Base, the future home of the Swiss Air Force’s F-35A, which is scheduled to enter service between 2027 and 2030.
Beyond the suspicious location, American and British national security officials were quick to note other prominent red flags.
As previously reported, the new owners shut down the Hotel Rössli’s restaurant and did not seem all that focused on attracting clientele, while much of the staff was replaced by Chinese workers. The Wangs also returned to China annually around Christmas, one of the area’s busiest times—further questioning the family’s motives for buying the hotel.
Only after the US Department of Defense (DoD) issued an ultimatum stating that the F-35 could not be housed at the airstrip unless better security measures were implemented did Swiss officials finally act. The hotel was raided, and the Wang family was fined for violating Swiss hospitality laws.
Although they denied spying for Beijing, the family returned to China, and the hotel was closed. The Swiss military has since purchased the building for $1.8 million. It is unclear whether the century-old structure will be torn down or find another purpose.
Between drones, hackers, and possibly even purchasing a hotel, it appears that China will go to great lengths to gain any insight into foreign-made military hardware.
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu has contributed over 3,200 published pieces to more than four dozen magazines and websites over a thirty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].
Image: Shutterstock / Davi Costa.
