Philippine Authorities Probe Donations by Suspected Chinese Spies

The suspects, caught with photos of Philippine forces, donated motorcycles and money to police departments and local governments through CCP affiliates.

Riot police officers stand guard during a protest in Manila, Philippines, on May 21, 2022. Ezra Acayan/Getty Images

Philippine authorities announced on March 3 an investigation into reported donations made by Chinese nationals arrested on suspicion of spying after they were found with maps and photographs of military assets stationed on the Philippine west coast.

According to a government update, four of the five suspects arrested between Jan. 24 and 25 donated motorcycles and money to police departments and governing bodies through a Chinese Communist Party (CCP) affiliate. The four named suspects are Wang Yongyi, Wu Junren, Cai Shaohuang, and Chen Haitao.

“If this was a donation in good faith, we really need to know because receiving a donation is not a bad thing,” said Claire Castro, Philippine Presidential Communications Office spokesperson, at a news conference.

“There is nothing wrong if we accept a donation if done in good faith. So, if it was given with ulterior motive, we need to investigate that and if any of those who accepted are local officials.”

The dole-outs date back to 2022 when 10 motorcycles were donated through a Chinese volunteer group called Qiaoxing.

According to Princess Abante, head of the Manila Public Information Office, this donation was reported through the correct channels.

“The donation consisted of nine 2016 models and one 2015 model of gasoline-fueled Sinski motorcycles, each valued at P14,500.00 [$250] for a total amount of P145,000.00 [$2,500],” Abante said, according to the Philippine government update.

“The turnover ceremony in 2022 was the only occasion in which Mayor Honey Lacuna met with Wang Yongyi of the Qiaoxing Volunteer Group. There were no prior or subsequent engagements between them.”

She said the mayor’s office did not receive any cash from the group, only the motorcycles, which were intended for the police.

“No additional donations, projects, or discussions took place with Wang or the group beyond the turnover of the motorcycles. There were no further donations from them afterward,” she said.

Castro told reporters that the incident had the attention of the country’s leader.

“The President will not let that go. Really, when the news is like that and it reaches us, it really needs to be investigated. We will not let that pass,” she said.

This development comes amidst longstanding tensions between the Philippines and China over a body of water that the Philippines refers to as the West Philippine Sea.

There, its vessels—often civilian—are regularly confronted by China, which claims that the area falls within its nine-dash-line demarcation and is thus its territory.

The Permanent Court of Arbitration passed a ruling in 2016 nullifying China’s claims, but this did little to resolve the dispute between the two countries as the communist state continues to harass vessels and aircraft in the area.

A recent incident occurred on Feb. 18 when a Philippine Bureau of Fisheries aircraft was accosted by a Chinese Navy helicopter.

After the incident, Philippine Coast Guard Commodore Jay Tarriela stated on X: “A People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLA-Navy) helicopter, identified by tail number 68, performed dangerous flight maneuvers towards the BFAR aircraft. This reckless action posed a serious risk to the safety of the pilots and passengers.”

The United States, which is an ally of the Philippines and maintains a small but regular military presence in the island country, also took a stance on the incident.

“We condemn the dangerous maneuvers by a PLA Navy helicopter that endangered pilots and passengers on a Philippine air mission,” U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay L. Carlson wrote on X.