[Daily Mail, where America gets its news] - Two Chinese Embassy officials were kicked out of the U.S. after they breached a military base in Virginia in September
- Neither Washington or Beijing announced the incident or expulsion
- The episode could be the first instance in more than 30 years of Chinese espionage in the U.S.
- American officials say Chinese officials with diplomatic passports have been trying to access research and government facilities more often lately
| Dawn adds: |
...which still proudly displays Walter Duranty's Pulitzer prize...
reported on Sunday.
The newspaper, which cited multiple people with knowledge of the episode, said it appeared to be the first time in more than 30 years that the US has expelled Chinese diplomats on suspicion of espionage.
At least one of the diplomats was believed to be an intelligence officer operating under cover, the Times said.
The Times said the diplomats, accompanied by their wives, drove up to the checkpoint at the entrance to a sensitive installation near Norfolk, Virginia that includes special operations forces.
The guard saw that they didn’t have permission to enter and directed them to go through the gates, turn around and exit.
The Chinese officials continued onto the base, evading military personnel pursuing them until they were forced to stop by fire trucks blocking their path, according to the Times.
The Chinese officials said they had not understood the instructions they were given, but US personnel were unconvinced by their explanation.
The motive for the incursion was not clear, but US officials said they believe the Chinese diplomats were hoping to test the security measures at the base.
Weeks after the incident at the Virginia base, the State Department placed restrictions on the activities of Chinese diplomats, in what it said was a response to years-old Chinese regulations limiting the movements of US diplomats. China instituted similar restrictions on US diplomats in December.