A Chinese national was arrested in the Philippines for allegedly conducting surveillance operations on military facilities.
At a press conference in Manila on Jan. 20, the Chinese suspect was identified as Deng Yuanqing, whom local investigators said is affiliated with the Army Engineering University of the People’s Liberation Army in China.
Deng was part of a group that authorities had been investigating since intelligence indicated they had arrived in the Philippines to perform surveillance on critical infrastructure, including military facilities, according to Philippine National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Jaime Santiago.
“We seized his vehicle, and mounted on it was an espionage equipment,” Santiago said at the press conference. “It is possible that some of the collected information has already been transmitted to China.”
The trio visited several locations, including sites where the U.S. military has been granted access under a bilateral agreement, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Romeo Brawner Jr. said.
“We are just looking into the overall espionage effort of China,” Brawner said at the press conference.
According to PNA, the trio were arrested in Makati, a city located in the southeast of Manila.
Brawner added that local authorities were still conducting forensics of the seized equipment, which included photos of Fort Bonifacio, the headquarters of the Philippine army, and Camp Crame, the national headquarters of the Philippine National Police, according to the outlet.
Security around all of the Philippines’s military camps and facilities has been increased, Brawner said, according to the outlet.
Last year, a Chinese national was arrested with what may have been espionage equipment, Brawner added, according to the outlet.
“The arrest of these individuals is a stark reminder of the persistent threats posed by foreign interference and malign influence to the country,” Año said.
“In light of these developments, we urge Congress to prioritize the passage of the amendments to the Espionage Act as well as the Countering Foreign Interference and Malign Influence bill.
“Strengthening our legal framework is essential to effectively address evolving security threats and to ensure that those who seek to compromise our national security will face the full force of the law.”
The cases come amid growing tension between China and the Philippines over Chinese maritime activities, including the conduct of its coast guard and fishing militia in Manila’s exclusive economic zone.
“The Philippine Coast Guard remains steadfast in its commitment to safeguarding the country’s maritime interests and upholding international law without escalating tensions,” Tarriela said.