Federal prosecutors have charged five Chinese nationals with allegedly lying and trying to conceal their actions, more than a year after authorities spotted them near a remote Michigan military site where thousands of troops had gathered for summer drills. The five defendants, who were undergraduate students at the University of Michigan at the time of the incident in August 2023, left the United States after graduating in May, according to a criminal complaint filed in federal court on Oct. 1. Arrest warrants have been issued for the five individuals.
“The defendants are not in custody. Should they come into contact with U.S. authorities, they will be arrested and face these charges,” Gina Balaya, a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Detroit, said on Oct. 2.
The incident happened at Camp Grayling, the largest Army National Guard training facility in the United States during last summer’s annual Northern Strike training event.
According to Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, more than 7,000 participants from 25 states, one territory and four countries took part in the military exercises.
The five defendants are not charged for what happened at Camp Grayling. Instead they are accused of misleading investigators about their trip to the location and conspiring to delete photos from their cellphones.
The case highlights concerns in Congress about Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) espionage efforts either through buying land near U.S military sites or breaching military bases.
In 2020 three Chinese nationals were sentenced to prison terms for trespassing and taking photos of Naval Air Station Key West Florida.
In July a Chinese student pleaded guilty to two misdemeanors under Espionage Act for using drone to take photos of naval shipyards Virginia.
The five defendants are Xu Zhekai Guan Renxiang Zhu Haoming Tao Jingzhe and Liang Yi according to complaint.
On Aug13th ,2023,the five were confronted after midnight at boat launch on Bear Lake at Camp Grayling by sergeant major with Utah National Guard.According FBI one defendant said “We are media” before they gathered belongings agreed leave area.
Utah National Guard had tactical operations center near Bear Lake.The center had tents antennae satellite dishes vehicles generators all which were “visible from location” where sergeant major encountered five defendants according complaint.
Five had reserved room nearby hotel week before they were spotted.
On Dec18th ,2023,Guan arrived Detroit Metropolitan Airport board flight South Korea en route China.He told US Customs Border Protection officials that he his classmates taken trip northern Michigan four months earlier “to see shooting stars” FBI said.In Guan possession was external hard drive containing two images “military vehicles” taken same night as encounter with National Guard officer according complaint.On March3rd ,FBI agents interviewed Xu,Tao,Zhu,Liang separately Chicago O’Hare International Airport after arrived flight Iceland.According FBI four said they were Michigan August2023“see meteor shower.”
Investigators said five defendants discussed deleting photos from their phones cameras on Chinese social media app WeChat.The Five “appear have coordinated statements regarding incident discussed deletion photos from electronic devices prevent them being seen law enforcement,”according complaint.Rep.John Moolenaar(R-Mich.),chairman House Select Committee CCP,said post social media platform X Oct2nd that case shows once again CCP espionage can happen anywhere America we must be vigilant.“CCP obviously has an interest Camp Grayling this further evidence it would mistake Michigan leaders allow Gotion build our state,”he wrote referring Chinese battery maker Gotion plans build manufacturing plant state.“State funding Gotion plan bring Chinese nationals Mecosta County open invitation spying.For national security reasons Governor Whitmer legislature must revoke state funding Gotion immediately.”Whitmer has said Gotion plant which set built about100 miles from Camp Grayling would make Michigan global hub mobility electrification.Moolenaar also referenced his recent report saying American universities must shut down joint institutes with Chinese universities enact stricter guardrails emerging technology research.“American universities must realize target espionage protect critical taxpayer-funded research do,”he said.According report China has gained back-door access US technologies through partnerships academic research institutions over past decade millions dollars US funding indirectly going toward advancing Chinese military technology.FBI said Five Defendants studied University OfMichigan part school joint program Shanghai Jiao Tong University(SJTU)in China.They began studies two-year program August2022.University OfMichigan states website that more than150 SJTU students attend school through dual degree or joint graduate programs every year.Two universities also established joint institute China.Canberra-based think tank Australian Strategic Policy Institute,in2019 report highlighting risks research partnerships withChinese universities,said SJTU several linksChinese military home three Chinas major defense laboratories.In speech March2020,Yang Zhenbin,SJTU party secretary,said he would fully support resolutely obey central government decisions uphold party overall leadership school according schools website
