Puerto Princesa, Palawan — In a coordinated operation by the National Bureau of Investigation’s Special Task Force (NBI-STF), five Chinese nationals were apprehended last week for their involvement in illegal intelligence-gathering activities that threatened national security. The arrests are part of a broader investigation into foreign espionage in the Philippines, with particular attention to threats linked to the South China Sea.
The operation, which was initiated after the arrest of a Chinese national, DENG Yuanqing, on January 17, 2025, led authorities to identify and arrest four other individuals suspected of collaborating with him. DENG and his cohorts were initially accused of violating the Espionage Act, with surveillance revealing their involvement in aerial reconnaissance and surveillance of Philippine military assets, including the Philippine Navy’s Naval Detachment Oyster Bay in Puerto Princesa, Palawan.
The NBI’s investigation uncovered that the arrested Chinese nationals, all members of the Qiaoxing Volunteer Group of the Philippines and the Philippine China Association of Promotion of Peace and Friendship, Inc., had been conducting covert surveillance of strategic military sites in the country.
The group had reportedly posed as buyers of marine products in Puerto Princesa, but authorities became suspicious when they were seen frequently visiting Ulugan Bay—a known site near the Naval Detachment Oyster Bay, a key military installation of the Philippine Navy.
The five individuals arrested include CAI Shaohuang, also known as Richard Tan Chua, who served as the group’s field commander, and intelligence operatives CHENG Hai Tao (Lestrade), WU Cheng Ting (Brawn), and WANG Yong Yi (Watson). The fifth member of the group, WU Chin Ren, was also arrested. Their activities included using drones to collect intelligence, specifically targeting naval and coast guard assets.
Through further investigation, NBI agents discovered that the group had been collecting imagery and other sensitive data on Philippine military and coast guard installations.
Among the items recovered from their seized mobile devices were photographs of local ports, coast guard vessels, and military facilities, including the Philippine Navy’s Del Pilar Class PS 16, and terrain maps of sensitive areas like Subic Bay. One of the images even showed a Chinese character marked on a screenshot pointing toward the Naval Operating Base in Subic.
The operation was the result of thorough intelligence work and follow-up surveillance by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), who assisted in monitoring the group’s movements. Philippine authorities have raised alarms over the growing threat of foreign espionage, particularly from China, which has been actively asserting its territorial claims in the South China Sea, including areas claimed by the Philippines.
Following their arrest, the suspects were informed of their constitutional rights and brought to the NBI main office for processing. They are now facing charges for espionage under Commonwealth Act No. 616, as well as violations of the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 (R.A. 10175), related to their unauthorized use of technology for surveillance and data collection.
The case adds to a series of recent espionage incidents involving foreign nationals in the Philippines, underscoring the increasing vulnerabilities of the country’s national security infrastructure amidst rising geopolitical tensions in the Asia-Pacific region.
Philippine officials have pledged to intensify their efforts to counter foreign intelligence activities, particularly those linked to China, in light of ongoing maritime disputes.
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