Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency announced that seven Chinese citizens were arrested for illegally entering Guam while the U.S. Missile Defense Agency was conducting a crucial missile interception test using a new radar system.
According to a report by Reuters on December 20, the Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency stated that the Chinese nationals were apprehended between December 10th and 11th, with at least four of them found “near military installations.”
Guam is home to numerous military facilities, including Andersen Air Force Base where a missile test was conducted on December 10th.
The Institute for the Study of War highlighted in a report on Friday that spying on U.S. military installations, especially those with missile launch capabilities, could potentially provide valuable intelligence to China.
Authorities in Guam revealed that all seven Chinese citizens arrived on the same boat from Saipan, and investigations are still ongoing.
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment.
On December 10th, the U.S. Missile Defense Agency successfully intercepted a medium-range ballistic missile target launched in the vicinity of Guam. This milestone marks a significant advancement in Guam’s defense capabilities, primarily aimed at countering threats from China.
During the flight test, the Aegis Ashore Missile Defense System in Guam integrated with the new AN/TPY-6 radar and Vertical Launching System, launching an SM-3 Block IIA missile to intercept an airborne medium-range ballistic missile target near Andersen Air Force Base. The AN/TPY-6 radar tracked the target shortly after launch and, for the first time, used radar for end-to-end tracking and interception during a live ballistic missile flight test.
Guam, a U.S. territory in the western Pacific, serves as a strategic military outpost closer to China than Hawaii. It plays a crucial role in maintaining and upholding U.S. military presence, deterring adversaries, responding to crises, and safeguarding strategic interests in the free and open Indo-Pacific region.
The successful test on December 10th allows for a maximum of two interception tests per year, as stated by the Missile Defense Agency.
The United States plans to establish an air defense missile network around Guam at 16 locations to thwart any missile attacks. This initiative aims to integrate America’s most advanced missile defense systems and radars, with an estimated cost of up to $10 billion over the next decade.