KARAH RUCKER: NOT ALL WHO APPEAR TO BE TOURISTS ARE — IN FACT — TOURISTS.

INSTEAD THEY MAY BE FOREIGN SPIES. THAT’S ACCORDING TO AN ARMY OFFICER SPEAKING TO USA TODAY ABOUT SUSPECTED CHINESE SPIES TRYING TO INFILTRATE MILITARY BASES IN ALASKA IN THE GUISE OF TOURISTS.

THERE HAVE BEEN ENCOUNTERS OF SAID-TOURISTS ATTEMPTING TO ENTER MILITARY BASES IN ALASKA. OFTEN TIMES IT’S CHALKED UP TO A MISTAKE —

BUT OTHER TIMES THE INCIDENTS ARE FOUND TO BE **INTENTIONAL IN ORDER FOR THESE REPORTED CHINESE SPIES TO GAIN INFORMATION ON U.S. MILITARY SITES.

ACCORDING TO FIRST-HAND ACCOUNTS FROM SEVERAL SOLDIERS – THEY WITNESSED A VEHICLE WITH CHINESE CITIZENS BLOWING PAST A SECURITY CHECKPOINT AT AN ARMY BASE IN FAIRBANKS ALASKA. THE VEHICLE WAS EVENTUALLY STOPPED AND SEARCHED – WITH A DRONE FOUND INSIDE.

THE CHINESE CITIZENS CLAIMED TO BE TOURISTS WHO WERE LOST.

ALASKA IS HOME TO SOME OF THE PENTAGON’S MOST SOPHISTICATED MILITARY FACILITIES – WHICH CAN ATTRACT FOREIGN SPIES. BUT IT’S ALSO HOME TO WILDLIFE ATTRACTIONS AND THE NORTHERN LIGHTS – WHICH ATTRACT TOURISTS.

THE TRICKY PART — IS DECIPHERING THE INTENTIONS OF SOMEONE WHO CLAIMS TO BE SIGHTSEEING – BUT COULD ALSO BE SOMEONE TAPPING SENSITIVE MILITARY COMMUNICATIONS.

ATTEMPTS BY THE CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY TO SPY ON THE U.S. ARE RATHER COMMON ACCORDING TO FBI DIRECTOR CHRISTOPHER WRAY WHO SAYS THE FBI OPENS A NEW INVESTIGATION ON CHINESE ESPIONAGE EVERY 12 HOURS. AND CLAIMS THE GREATEST LONG-TERM THREAT TO THE U.S. IS CHINA. WHICH IS WHAT MAKES STORIES OF A CHINESE SPY BALLOON HOVERING OVER U.S. MILITARY BASES SUCH A SERIOUS BREACH AND WHY SKEPTICISM OVER SOMETHING AS INNOCENT AS THE TOURISM INDUSTRY PERSISTS.