XPost: sci.military.naval, soc.history.war.misc

from https://www.eurasiantimes.com/chinese-citizen-uses-drone-to-photograph-us-navy/

Home To US Nuclear Submarines, Chinese Citizen Flies UAV Over Virginia Shipyard; Comes After Norflock Incident
By Ashish Dangwal -June 3, 2024
ShareFacebookTwitterWhatsAppReddIt
The United States Department of Justice has charged a Chinese citizen
for using a drone to capture images of a Virginia shipyard engaged in
the construction of US Navy nuclear submarines.

The case, reported by Wired magazine, represents uncharted territory
within legal proceedings. It is ‘the first case of its kind’ under a long-standing law dating back to World War II, which prohibits the
aerial documentation of crucial military installations.

The accused, Fengyun Shi, a graduate student at the University of
Minnesota, faces six Espionage Act misdemeanors. The charges stem from
an incident on January 5, 2024, when Shi, on leave from his studies,
traveled to Virginia and rented a car.

An affidavit filed by FBI special agent Sara Shalowitz outlines the
events leading to Shi’s arrest. On January 6, 2024, Shi was purportedly flying a drone in adverse weather conditions near a local shipyard.

When the drone became entangled in a neighbor’s tree, Shi approached the resident for assistance. Suspicious of Shi’s nationality and motives,
the neighbor alerted authorities and provided photographic evidence of
the encounter.

An aerial view of the Norfolk Naval Shipyard located on the ELizabeth
River. The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS GEORGE WASHGINGTON
(CVN-73) is in the yard for a post-deployment overhaul. To the right
An aerial view of the Norfolk Naval Shipyard located on the ELizabeth
River. The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS GEORGE WASHGINGTON
(CVN-73) is in the yard for a post-deployment overhaul. PICRYL
Upon seizing the drone and analyzing its contents, law enforcement
officials allegedly discovered incriminating images believed to have
been taken at Newport News Shipyard and BAE Systems, both critical sites involved in the construction of naval vessels, including classified
nuclear submarines.

According to the affidavit, the Newport News Shipyard was actively
producing aircraft carriers and Virginia-class nuclear submarines on the
day Shi took the photographs.

“Naval aircraft carriers have classified and sensitive systems
throughout the carriers. The nuclear submarines present on that date
also have highly classified and sensitive Navy Nuclear Propulsion
Information (NNPI), and those submarines, even in the design and
construction phase, are sensitive and classified,” stated the affidavit, highlighting the gravity of the situation.

The Department of Justice is pursuing charges against Shi under the
Espionage Act, accusing him of six misdemeanors related to photographing
a vital military installation and utilizing an aircraft (UAV) for the
purpose. Each misdemeanor carries a potential sentence of up to one year
in prison.

As the case progresses, Shi has been placed under stringent conditions.
This includes residing in Virginia under probation and surrendering his passport. Further, court filings suggest that he requires a translator, indicating potential language barriers complicating legal proceedings.

Chinese Drones Over Critical Defense Assets
The legal proceedings against Fengyun Shi highlight a concerning trend involving the use of drones by Chinese nationals to capture sensitive
defense assets, raising alarms within the United States.

In April and May, alarming reports surfaced of photographs and videos
allegedly captured by a Chinese drone. These depicted the aircraft
carrier, the USS Ronald Reagan, during its deployment at Japan’s
Yokosuka Naval Base.

These images were disseminated on social media platforms, including X
(formerly Twitter), stirring apprehensions regarding potential espionage activities targeting US military assets.

Although an investigation by the US Navy found no evidence of drone
activity over the Ronald Reagan, the authenticity of the images remains uncertain.


Similarly, imagery emerged in April, depicting Japan Maritime
Self-Defense Force facilities in Yokosuka, along with a video showcasing
the helicopter destroyer JS Izumo docked at the base.

This bird's-eye view of the USS Ronald Reagan, apparently taken by a
drone, was uploaded to X by @Xiao_Hao_4 on April 4, 2024.
This bird’s-eye view of the USS Ronald Reagan, apparently taken by a
drone, was uploaded to X by @Xiao_Hao_4 on April 4, 2024. (X)
On May 9, the Japanese Ministry of Defense declared that a video
circulating on social media, purportedly captured by a Chinese drone
flying over the JS Izumo, was believed to be authentic.

“After carefully examining each of these points, we determined that
there was no unnaturalness in the footage,” a Japanese official said.

In response to these developments, Japan has planned to expedite the
deployment of advanced drone countermeasures and enhance its
capabilities to neutralize unauthorized drone activity.

The country’s defense ministry noted, “We intend to ensure base security through initiatives such as the early introduction of more capable drone countermeasure equipment and thorough measures to take strict and prompt measures within the scope of the law, such as forcing the landing of
illegal drones by jamming radio waves.”

Nonetheless, the escalating frequency of these incidents underscores the
urgent need for the US and its allies to fortify their defenses against emerging threats posed by unmanned aerial vehicles.

Contact the author at ashishmichel(at)gmail.com
Follow EurAsian Times on Google News

Share
Previous article
Rohingya Camps Turn Into Hub Of Global Terrorism; Pose Big Security
Threat To India, B’Desh: OPED
Next article
From Bombers To AEW&C – US Military Invests Big On ‘Heavy Stealth’ Technology To Maintain Global Lead
Ashish Dangwal
Ashish Dangwal
Ashish Dangwal holds a Master's degree in East-Asian studies and has a
deep interest in Defence and Geopolitics related issues. He is
interested in the impact of technology on foreign policy objectives as
well as geopolitical operationality in the Indo-Pacific. Contact: ashishmichel@gmail.com
RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR
B-2 Spirit Stealth Bombers
From Bombers To AEW&C – US Military Invests Big On ‘Heavy Stealth’ Technology To Maintain Global Lead

Rohingya Camps Turn Into Hub Of Global Terrorism; Pose Big Security
Threat To India, B’Desh: OPED
CHINA
China’s “Empty Airport” In Nepal Sparks Online Tensions; Envoy Intimidates Journo For Reporting Pokhara Airport Loan

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)