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By Micah McCartney
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A Chinese national has been arrested for allegedly flying a drone over Vandenberg Space Force Base in California's Santa Barbara County.
Yinpiao Zhou, 39, was taken into custody at San Francisco International Airport just before boarding a flight to China, according to the Justice Department. Zhou, a resident of Brentwood, has been charged with violating national defense airspace and failing to register an aircraft not providing transportation.
Zhou made his first court appearance on Tuesday at the U.S. District Court in San Francisco, a Justice Department spokesperson told Newsweek.
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Magistrate Judge Sallie Kim ordered him to be released on personal recognizance, allowing him to leave custody without bail on the condition that he attend future court hearings.
"Our office is appealing that ruling," the spokesperson stated, stressing that Zhou remains in federal custody. "We expect his arraignment will be scheduled for a date in the coming weeks in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles," he added.
He has not yet entered a plea.
Zhou was discovered after drone detection systems at the Space Force base detected the unmanned aerial vehicle, according to an affidavit filed with the court on Sunday.
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The drone flew for nearly an hour, reaching a maximum altitude of almost 1 mile. The flight began in Ocean Park, which is likely a reference to Ocean Beach Park near the base, the press statement said.
Base security personnel who went to investigate found Zhou along with another person, whose identity was not disclosed. He was discovered carrying the drone in his jacket.
A search of Zhou's cellphone revealed a Google search for "Vandenberg Space Force Base Drone Rules," as well as messages with another person about hacking the drone to fly higher than its normal altitude.
According to the statement, Zhou's last visit to China was in February, while his companion returned from the country on November 26.
If convicted, Zhou faces a maximum of four years in prison and criminal and civil fines totaling nearly $400,000.
A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in the U.S. told Newsweek it is confirming the information about Zhou's case "through relevant channels."
"The Chinese government attaches great importance to protecting the safety and legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens overseas and asks them to observe laws and regulations of host countries and not to engage in any form of illegal activities," they added.
The arrest comes amid heightened concerns in Washington over Chinese spying operations targeting military bases, universities, and other sensitive sites.
Earlier this year, a China-born U.S. citizen, Wenheng Zhao, received a 27-month sentence for sharing classified information about Navy exercises, operational security, and radar system blueprints with a Chinese intelligence contact.
Vandenberg Space Force Base is central to many of the United States' defense-oriented space operations.
Late in November, the base hosted the launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying satellites from the Department of Defense's National Reconnaissance Office. The mission was part of the office's growing constellation of cutting-edge satellites designed to boost the country's intelligence and defense capabilities.
Earlier in November, the base saw a test-firing of a nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). The U.S. Space Force described the test as a demonstration of the country's ability to maintain its ICBM strengths during a time of strategic competition.
Update 12/12/24, 7:30 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with comments from the Chinese Embassy and the U.S. Department of Justice.
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