Qilin Wu, a Chinese national, had previously illegally entered the United States across the southern border before traveling to Missouri.

The United States Air Force’s Northrop B-2 Spirit long-range strategic bomber isn’t exactly a rare sight, as the aircraft regularly makes flyover appearances at major events—most notably at this month’s Rose Bowl football matchup in Southern California. However, it remains one of the US Air Force’s most sophisticated aircraft, which is why restrictions are in place on photography of it while it is on the ground at its home facility. 

The United States Department of Justice (DoJ) last week charged Qilin Wu, a 35-year-old Chinese national, for photographing a B-2 on the ground at Whiteman Air Force Base (AFB) in Missouri. According to the criminal complaint, on December 2, 2025, Wu was stopped at the perimeter of the military installation that houses the entire fleet of flying-wing bombers.

The Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI) “investigated a report of a suspicious minivan bearing a Massachusetts license plate,” parked near the perimeter.

Wu claimed that he was observing the B-2, which isn’t uncommon or illegal. According to AFOSI, he was informed at the time that taking photographs or recording video was not permitted. However, AFOSI was notified that the same minivan had later returned, and Wu was found there once again. After being confronted by agents, Wu acknowledged that he had taken videos and numerous photos of the B-2 Spirit, sections of Whiteman AFB, and other military equipment.

“In total, investigators observed 18 images and videos that Wu admitted he had taken of the installation and of military equipment,” the DoJ explained. It further noted that Wu admitted “to having photographed another US Air Force base and its military aircraft,” including a May 2024 incident near National Air Station Key West, Florida, and another near Langley AFB, Virginia. Wu acknowledged having photographed several US Air Force aircraft at Langley, including an A-10 Thunderbolt II, B-2 Spirit, and B-52 Stratofortress.

The B-2 Spirit’s Specifications

• Year Introduced: 1993
• Number Built: 21, including one prototype
• Length: 69 ft (20.9 m)
• Wingspan: 172 ft (52.12 m)
• Weight (MTOW): 336,500 lb (152,634 kg)
• Engines: Four General Electric F118-GE-100 turbofan engines
• Top Speed: 628 mph (1,010 km/h)
• Range: 6,000 nautical miles (11,100 km; 6,904 miles) without aerial refueling
• Service Ceiling: 50,000 ft (15,240 m)
• Loadout: 40,000 lb (18,144 kg) – Capable of delivering conventional or nuclear weapons, including JDAMs, bunker busters, and nuclear bombs
• Aircrew: 2

An Actual Dangerous “Illegal” Migrant?

This was not the Chinese nationals’ first encounter with US authorities. The DoJ stated that Wu had entered the United States illegally on June 22, 2023, near Nogales, Arizona, and was soon after arrested by immigration authorities.

“Due to a lack of detention space, Wu was released on his own recognizance to await immigration removal proceedings originally scheduled for February 9, 2027,” the DoJ further acknowledged.

After being detained by AFOSI agents, Wu was arrested again by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on December 3, 2025.

The criminal complaint was filed in the Western District of Missouri, and the US AFOSI is investigating the case, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the US Air Force’s Security Forces, and ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations.

According to the DoJ, “If convicted of violating 18 U.S.C. § 795, Wu would be subject to a sentence of up to one year in federal prison.”

China Is Watching the US Air Force Carefully

As reported by ClearanceJobs, this latest incident follows a “well-documented, multi-year pattern of Chinese nationals attempting unauthorized visual surveillance of US bases.” There are numerous reports of Chinese “tourists” or others who have employed drones to record videos of sensitive military facilities.

Moreover, Wu may not have been the only Chinese national paying close attention to Whiteman AFB.

An investigative news report by The Daily Caller’s Philip Lenczycki, published in November 2025, noted the presence of a “foreign-owned trailer park” linked to Chinese Communist Party (CCP) intelligence. “The Knob Noster Trailer Park” was found to be located less than a mile from the runway at Whiteman AFB—and it is just one of “several properties” in proximity to US military facilities that Chinese shell companies have acquired.

About the Author: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu has contributed over 3,200 published pieces to more than four dozen magazines and websites over a 30-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a contributing writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: Editor@nationalinterest.org.

Image: Shutterstock / rikinik.

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