A midnight encounter at a military base unveils an alleged espionage plot involving Chinese nationals.
Fox News reported that five former University of Michigan students have been charged with attempting to cover up alleged spying activities at Camp Grayling, a National Guard training center in Michigan. The incident occurred during a joint training operation between U.S. and Taiwanese military forces.
The accused, all Chinese nationals, were confronted by a Utah National Guard sergeant major in August 2023 near a lake at Camp Grayling. They claimed to be media personnel photographing a meteor shower, believing they were in a campground. However, subsequent investigations revealed a more complex situation.
Four months after the initial encounter, one of the accused, Renxiang Guan, was interviewed by Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) officers at Detroit Metropolitan Airport. During this interview, Guan mentioned a trip to northern Michigan to observe shooting stars but was unable to provide specific details about their location.
A search of Guan's electronic devices by CBP officers uncovered images of the Grayling Military Installation, including military vehicles and equipment. The timestamps on these photographs coincided with ongoing live firing exercises approximately two hours before the sergeant major's encounter with the group.
In March, the remaining four individuals were questioned upon their arrival in Chicago on a flight from Iceland. They corroborated the northern Michigan trip but maintained it was for stargazing purposes.
Investigators discovered WeChat messages among the Chinese nationals discussing the deletion of photos from their cameras and phones. This evidence led to charges including making false statements to investigators, conspiracy, and the destruction and falsification of records in an apparent attempt to conceal their activities.
The accused individuals are believed to have returned to China and remain at large. They have been identified as Zhekai Xu, Haoming Zhu, Jingzhe Tao, and Yi Liang, in addition to Renxiang Guan.
All five were students at the University of Michigan as part of a joint program with Shanghai Jiao Tong University in China. They completed their studies in May, according to the criminal complaint.
Rep. John Moolenaar, R-Mich., expressed concern about the case, emphasizing the serious threat posed by Chinese spies to national security. Moolenaar, who chairs the Select Committee on China, stated:
This case shows once again that CCP espionage can happen anywhere in America, and we must be vigilant. The CCP obviously has an interest in Camp Grayling, and this is further evidence it would be a mistake for Michigan leaders to allow Gotion to build in our state.
The congressman's statement refers to Gotion, a Chinese company planning to manufacture electric vehicle batteries in Green Charter Township, Mecosta County.
Moolenaar pushed for revoking state funding for Gotion due to national security risks and urged stricter security at American universities to prevent espionage. He also called for closing joint institutes between American and Chinese universities. Protecting taxpayer-funded research in emerging technologies was highlighted as a priority.
The alleged espionage attempt at Camp Grayling has exposed vulnerabilities in military installation security and raised questions about the screening processes for international students. Five former University of Michigan students, all Chinese nationals, now face serious charges related to spying and subsequent cover-up attempts. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the persistent threat of foreign espionage on American soil, prompting calls for enhanced vigilance and stricter security protocols.
