As pointed out, there is no restricted or controlled airspace at that location, so what did they charge him with? Military bases often have “no photography” postings on the facility itself, but a civilian facility, and with the photo not taken from on the facility?
Anyway, I have no doubt the Chinese do in fact have active & ongoing intelligence operations here, just as I am sure we do there. Still, the only reason I can imagine a Chinese agency special-ordering such a photo would be someone wanting a closeup or angle view of some specific element of a specific project, and likely also at a specific point in the build. Outside of that, satellite should be just as good. Inquiring minds want to know more.