Treason if true.
The claim in Emerald Robinson's X post—that China established secret drone bases within the United States during the Biden administration—is not supported by verified evidence from credible sources.
It appears to be an unsubstantiated allegation, possibly extrapolating from broader, documented concerns about Chinese-linked entities purchasing U.S. farmland near military installations and separate incidents of unauthorized drone activity over sensitive sites.
Key Context and Evidence
- The Original Claim's Source: The post cites an unnamed "national security official," but this seems to reference a January 17, 2026, Al Arabiya English interview with Alex Gray, a former White House adviser under Trump.
Land Purchases Near Bases: Chinese-linked companies have indeed bought significant U.S. agricultural land, with some parcels located near strategic military sites (e.g., near Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota or Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri). As of late 2025, foreign entities (including Chinese) own about 43 million acres of U.S. farmland, per USDA estimates—less than 3% of total U.S. agricultural land, but the proximity to bases has sparked scrutiny.
Legislation like the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act has expanded restrictions on such purchases, and states like Florida and Texas have enacted bans on foreign adversaries owning land near critical infrastructure.
No reports confirm these lands being used for drone bases.
In the interview, Gray discusses Chinese entities acquiring U.S. farmland near at least 19 military bases as a potential vector for "asymmetric warfare" and espionage, emphasizing risks like surveillance or disruption of food supply chains. However, he makes no mention of drones, secret bases, or any construction of such facilities. Gray's warnings align with bipartisan concerns raised in U.S. government reports since at least 2023, including USDA data on foreign land ownership.
- Drone Incidents and Speculation: There have been documented increases in unauthorized drone sightings over U.S. military bases (e.g., a 300% spike in suspicious activity reported by the DoD in 2024-2025), with some lawmakers speculating Chinese involvement.
Broader Espionage Concerns: Related issues include the 2023 Chinese spy balloon incident, which gathered data over U.S. military sites, and bans on Chinese-made drones (e.g., DJI models) in U.S. government use due to data security risks.
China has tested armed drone ships at its own secret naval bases, but not in the U.S.
Speculative articles and X posts from mid-2025 discuss hypothetical drone sabotage risks from Chinese-owned land, often citing events like Israel's use of hidden drone facilities in Iran as analogies.
These remain unproven scenarios.
Incidents include drones over Langley AFB (Virginia) in late 2023 and Vandenberg Space Force Base (California) in 2024, leading to arrests like that of a Chinese national for illegal drone flights.
Some analyses link these to potential espionage, but federal officials, including President Biden in December 2024, have downplayed them as non-nefarious (e.g., hobbyist or commercial drones).
No intelligence assessments publicly confirm Chinese-built "secret drone bases" on U.S. soil.
In summary, while U.S.-China tensions involve real risks from land acquisitions and drone tech, the specific allegation of secret drone bases lacks confirmation from government, media, or intelligence sources as of January 31, 2026. It may stem from misinterpretation or hype around Gray's interview and ongoing drone mysteries. If new evidence emerges, this could change, but currently, it's not true.