Conflict Arises Between Beijing and Manila Regarding Capture of Suspected Chinese Spy
The Chinese engineer was reportedly gathering confidential information while pretending to be a surveyor for a self-driving car company.
A dispute arose between the Philippines and China recently, as a Chinese engineer was apprehended under suspicion of spying on the Philippines’ defense capabilities, including locations jointly maintained with the United States.
Manila’s National Bureau of Investigation (NIB) detained the Chinese national and two Filipino accomplices on Jan. 17 for alleged “illegal surveillance and spying activities,” as stated in a release by the NIB on Jan. 20.
The NBI’s special task force and cybercrime division received intelligence in December about a group of Chinese individuals obtaining sensitive information under the guise of developing autonomous vehicles.
According to the NIB, the suspects were involved in “surveillance operations, illicitly obtaining and disclosing information affecting national defense, using advanced technologies.”
The arrest sparked a public disagreement between Beijing and Manila. China rebutted the allegation as unfounded, while the Philippines disclosed more details about the case as the week progressed.
The issue garnered significant media attention in the country.
In a joint press conference with the NIB and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Jan. 20, Philippines Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla stated that the alleged spy would face thorough prosecution.
AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo S. Brawner, Jr. mentioned in the conference that the alleged Chinese spy operated where “Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement” (EDCA) sites are situated. These sites have potential military purposes due to coordinates and topographical information.
The EDCA, signed in 2014 between the United States and the Philippines, allows U.S. forces access to designated locations in the Philippines for security exercises, joint military training, and humanitarian activities, with the Philippines retaining sovereignty and control.
Charges
The accused spy is Deng Yuanqing, a 39-year-old individual, who graduated from the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) University of Science and Technology with a specialization in engineering. The NIB identified three of Deng’s associates based in China—a pair of unnamed hardware engineers and a financier known only as “Wang.”
Deng’s wife refuted the espionage accusations, claiming he was surveying roads for a self-driving car company.
Beijing Protests
The Chinese embassy in the Philippines indicated that Deng’s family provided a different perspective on the situation.
A spokesperson for the embassy urged the Philippines to refrain from baseless speculations and make decisions based on facts.
Chinese state media, the Global Times, highlighted that such incidents harm Beijing-Manila relations, influenced by their disputes in the South China Sea.
Philippines National Security Adviser Eduardo Año called for stronger espionage laws and urged lawmakers to prioritize amendments to the Espionage Act and the Countering Foreign Interference and Malign Influence bill.
The Espionage Act, enacted in 1941, prohibits espionage and similar offenses against national security but is limited to wartime scenarios.
Año emphasized the need to enhance the legal framework to combat evolving security threats effectively and ensure that individuals jeopardizing national security face appropriate repercussions.
