In a dramatic escalation of security concerns, the Philippines has recently exposed a series of espionage activities linked to Chinese nationals. These revelations underscore the increasing sophistication and audacity of foreign intelligence operations within the archipelago, prompting calls for heightened vigilance and legislative reform.
The Arrest of Yuanqing Deng and Associates
On January 17, 2025, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrested Yuanqing Deng, a Chinese software engineer, along with two Filipino associates, Ronel Jojo Besa and Jayson Amado Fernandez. The trio was allegedly conducting unauthorized surveillance across Metro Manila and the greater Luzon area. The operation included the collection of detailed images of terrains and structures without government authorization, raising red flags about potential threats to national security.
National Security Adviser Eduardo Año emphasized the severity of the situation, urging Congress to prioritize amendments to the country’s Espionage Act. “The law must evolve to address the complexities of modern espionage. These activities compromise national security and cannot go unpunished,” he stated.
A Pattern of Espionage: The Case of Alice Guo
This incident follows the controversial arrest of former Bamban Mayor Alice Guo (also known as Guo Hua Ping) in September 2024. Guo, accused of graft and money laundering, was suspected of being a Chinese spy with links to criminal syndicates. Investigations revealed her alleged involvement in offshore gambling operations targeting Chinese clients, raising suspicions about her true affiliations.
Guo’s case highlighted vulnerabilities in the Philippines’ security apparatus, as questions arose regarding her naturalization process and the extent of her influence in local governance. “We cannot rule out the possibility of deeply embedded foreign agents influencing key sectors of our society,” a Philippine senator remarked.
Underwater Surveillance: A New Frontier
Further intensifying security concerns, Philippine fishermen recovered a suspected Chinese underwater spy drone off the country’s central coast in December 2024. Marked with “HY-119,” the device was identified as a sophisticated navigation and communication system potentially used for monitoring and reconnaissance. The discovery prompted warnings from security experts about the implications of such technologies for national sovereignty, particularly in the contested South China Sea region.
Read more about Chinese Spy network:
China’s Global Spy Network: The CCP’s Sinister Reach into Every Corner of the World – Mainland Post
Shujun Wang: The Double Life of a Chinese-American Scholar Turned Spy, New York City. – Mainland Post
Cyber Espionage War: Chinese Hackers Target Tibetan Websites in Sinister Malware Attack – Mainland Post
