US
US military breach? Chinese national faces charges after alleged base photography
The United States Department of Justice has filed a criminal complaint against Qilin Wu, a 35-year-old Chinese national, accusing him of unauthorised photography of a sensitive military installation in the state of Missouri, U.S. Attorney R. Matthew Price announced.
According to the complaint filed in the Western District of Missouri, Wu is charged with one count of taking photographs of a vital military installation and military equipment without authorisation, in violation of U.S. law.
The Justice Department said that on December 2, 2025, the Whiteman Air Force Base Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI) received a report of a suspicious minivan bearing Massachusetts licence plates near the perimeter of Whiteman Air Force Base, home to the U.S. Air Force’s B-2 Spirit stealth bomber.
Air Force patrol officers dispatched to the area encountered Wu, who told them he was present to observe the B-2 aircraft. Patrolmen informed him that photographing or recording videos of the military installation was prohibited.
According to the complaint, AFOSI was alerted the following day that the same minivan had again been spotted near a perimeter fence of the base. Agents returned to the location and once more encountered Wu.
During the interaction, Wu allegedly admitted to recording videos of the B-2 Spirit aircraft and taking numerous photographs of the base’s perimeter fencing, a gate, and military equipment. Investigators said Wu voluntarily showed them images and videos stored on his mobile phone.
In total, investigators observed 18 images and videos that Wu admitted to having taken of the installation and military assets. Wu also acknowledged photographing another U.S. Air Force base and its aircraft, court documents said.
According to federal filings, Wu illegally entered the United States on June 22, 2023, near Nogales, Arizona, and was initially arrested by immigration authorities for unlawful presence. He was later released on his own recognisance due to limited detention space and was scheduled to appear in immigration removal proceedings on February 9, 2027.
On December 3, 2025, Wu was re-arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The Justice Department emphasised that the allegations in the criminal complaint are accusations only, and Wu is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
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