Authorities in South Korea are investigating three Chinese students for using a drone to film a United States aircraft carrier and naval sites in June. The suspects, aged between 30 and 49, are residents of Busan, a city known for U.S. Navy ship visits.
The individuals were spotted flying a drone towards South Korea’s Naval Operations Command in Busan while the USS Theodore Roosevelt was stationed there on June 25. They are accused of unlawfully recording the vessel and military premises.
The USS Theodore Roosevelt had docked in Busan alongside destroyers USS Halsey and USS Daniel Inouye on June 22 for a routine port call and to reinforce the alliance between the U.S. and South Korea.
Following their port visit, the U.S. naval vessels participated in a joint exercise with South Korea and Japan named Freedom Edge, leaving Busan on June 26.
The Chinese nationals are facing charges for violating the Protection of Military Bases and Installations Act. They reportedly told authorities that their drone use was prompted by curiosity.
The footage they captured, lasting over five minutes, showed a wide view of the Theodore Roosevelt and the Naval Operations Command. The recording coincided with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s visit to the aircraft carrier.
South Korean soldiers on patrol noticed the drone, leading to the suspects’ apprehension. Investigators in Busan are examining the suspects’ cell phone data, including call logs and recordings.
Earlier this year, a similar incident occurred when drone footage of the Japanese aircraft carrier JS Izumo at Yokosuka naval base was shared on a Chinese social media platform.
The USS Theodore Roosevelt carrier group, originally deployed in January, was rerouted to the Red Sea on July 12 to safeguard commercial vessels. By July 16, the carrier was navigating in the Fifth Fleet area, covering regions such as the Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Gulf of Oman, and parts of the Indian Ocean, as per a U.S. Navy photo.