# 2025 Philippine espionage cases

On January 17, 2025, Philippine law enforcement agents arrested Chinese national Deng Yuanqing along with two Filipinos under suspicions of spying for the People's Republic of China. His group was accused of mapping critical infrastructure in the Philippines including military bases which the United States has access to. Five more Chinese nationals were arrested.

## Background
### China–Philippines relations

During the Senate inquiries about Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) in 2024, it was alleged that Chinese spies has taken advantage the proliferation of POGOs during the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte. National Intelligence Coordinating Agency deputy director general Francisco Acedillo says that a Chinese spy network has long established itself in the economic and political landscape of the Philippines.
The most notable case prior the January 2025 spy arrests was that of dismissed Bamban mayor Alice Guo who allegedly have links to the raided POGO hub in her town and was named as a Chinese spy by Thailand-detained self-confessed agent She Zhijiang. POGOs were banned by the end of 2024.
The two countries are also involved in territorial disputes in the South China Sea. The United States presence in the Philippines through access to Philippine military bases via the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement is seen as an affront to Chinese interest.

### Accused
#### Deng Yuanqing

Deng Yuanqing (Chinese: 鄧元慶) is a software engineer who is a resident of the Philippines who was arrested and accused of espionage.
According to Philippine Bureau of Immigration, Deng is married to a Filipino woman and has been travelling in and out of the Philippines since 2013. He is a businessman and a holder of a permanent residence visa due to his marriage. Furthermore, Filipino investigators allege that Deng is affiliated with the People's Liberation Army University of Science and Technology (now the Army Engineering University of the PLA since 2017) in Nanjing, China. Deng's alleged entry at ScholarGPS was cited for this claim.
Deng also has a sister, who says he is merely a labor contractor for a driving technology company working on a road-testing project in the Philippines. His wife says his job involves road surveying for self-driving car technology. NBI director Jaime Santiago questions why the specific name of the company cannot be disclosed.

#### Summary of suspects

Some of the arrested Chinese nationals have been living in the Philippines as early as 2003. Three of them are noted to be married to Filipinos.
| Name | Age | Arrest | Notes |
| Deng Yuanqing | | January 17 (in Makati) |
| Ronel Jojo Besa | | January 17 (in Makati) | Filipino drivers of Deng |
| Jayson Amado Fernandez | | January 17 (in Makati) | Filipino drivers of Deng |
| Cheng Hai Tao (Lestrade) | 36 | January 24 (in Pasay) | Arrested at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport coming from a flight from Palawan. |
| Wu Cheng Ting (Brawn) | 38 | January 24 (in Pasay) | Arrested at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport coming from a flight from Palawan. |
| Wang Yong Yi (Watson) | 52 | January 24 (in Intramuros, Manila) |
| Wu Chin Ren | 62 | January 24 (in Binondo, Manila) | |
| Cai Shaohuang (Richard Tan Chua) | 52 | January 25 (in Dumaguete) | Alleged field commander |

## Arrests
### January 17 arrest in Makati

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) became suspicious of a group led by Deng. They suspected that his group was conducting surveillance on critical infrastructure, including military installations. The NBI with assistance from the Armed Forces of the Philippines conducted the arrest of Deng and two suspected Filipino accomplice in a condominium in Makati, Metro Manila on January 17, 2025. Authorities also confiscated a Toyota RAV4 equipped with a GNSS RTK Global Navigation Satellite System and data transmission tools. The detained were presented to the media on January 20, 2025.
The three are facing charges under Section 1(a) and 2(a) of the Commonwealth Act 616 (Espionage Act of 1941), in relation to Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012. Deng plead "not guilty" to the charges.
AFP Chief of Staff Romeo Brawner Jr. alleged that Deng's group was visiting military bases the Philippines granted access to the United States under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).
National Security Council has urged the Congress for the passage of a bill amending the Espionage Act of 1941 to cover more espionage acts during times of peace following Deng's arrest.
Chinese Filipino civic leader Teresita Ang See was skeptical on about the accusation and insist its an "iffy conclusion" that Deng was committing espionage just because he has "road surveying instruments in his car". She dismissed accusations and speculations against Deng as "conspiracy theories" that only serves to stir tensions on Philippines-China relations. She called for a fair probe on Deng. NBI director Jaime Santiago disputes Ang-See's position that the devices confiscated are commercial-grade purchasable online. He insist the equipment are military grade including a Light Detection and Ranging device

### January 24–25

The NBI arrest five more suspected Chinese spies from January 24 to 25. They are Cai Shaohuang, Wang Yong Yi, Wu Jun Ren, and Wu Chengting. The five are allegedly working with Deng.
Some of them were posing as Taiwanese tourists in Palawan. They were identified as members of the Qiaoxing Volunteer Group of the Philippines and the Philippine China Association of Promotion of Peace and Friendship.
President Bongbong Marcos issued a statement of concern that the Chinese could have been utilizing sleeper agents against the country.

## Alleged targets of surveillance

The suspects are believed by Philippine authorities to be conducting intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) operations. This includes taking photos and videos of Philippine Coast Guard stations, naval vessels and docks, and high-resolution images of Philippine Navy ships Activities has been monitored as early as 2023.
| Target | Type | Location | Notes |
| Naval Detachment Oyster Bay | Naval base | Ulugan Bay, Puerto Princesa, Palawan | Aerial surveillance and imagery intelligence; From Kahumat-an Beach |
| Antonio Bautista Air Base | Air base | Puerto Princesa, Palawan | |
| Buliluyan Port | Seaport | Bataraza, Palawan | Via a CCTV installed at Sun Seas Beach Resort. |
| Subic Bay International Airport | Airport | Morong, Bataan | Terrain map |
| Naval Operating Base Subic | Naval base | Subic, Zambales | Terrain map |
| Philippine Coast Guard – Maritime Safety Service Unit NCR-CL | Coast guard base | Manila | |

## Chinese government response

The embassy of China in Manila maintains that the Chinese government always advises its citizens to abide by local laws and regulations. It condemned the characterization of Deng as a "Chinese spy" and urged the Philippine government to "stick to the facts, stop shadow-chasing" and protect the interests and welfare of Chinese nationals in the Philippines.

## Other reactions

Figures in the Chinese Filipino community has cautioned against sensationalizing the espionage cases while recognizing the incidents shouldn't be downplayed. There are concerns that it may affect tourism from China and may stow Sinophobia.