BEIJING, China — A U.S. Marine is being detained in China for what officials called a "literal breach of Chinese sovereignty" after he allegedly infiltrated the country through the use of a sophisticated tunnel system, Duffel Blog has learned.

Private First Class Bobby Sherman, 19, of Danville, Kentucky, is currently under investigation by Chinese authorities for alleged espionage and illegal entry into the communist state. The Marine has denied the allegations.

Sources confirmed Sherman, assigned to H&S 2/7 in Twentynine Palms, California, unwittingly embarked on his first journey outside of the continental United States while tasked with digging a defensive fighting position, or “slit trench.” Sherman’s buddies reported that the laborious assignment was for “no good reason at all, just because Staff Sergeant said to.”