China has denied allegations of espionage after a Chinese national and two Filipinos were arrested in the Philippines for allegedly conducting surveillance on military and government facilities.

Speaking at a press conference in Beijing, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning dismissed the claims, urging the Philippines to handle the situation with objectivity.

“The Chinese government, as always, asks Chinese nationals overseas to abide by local laws and regulations,” Mao said. “We hope the Philippines will stick to the facts, stop shadow-chasing, stop peddling the so-called ‘Chinese spy,’ and earnestly protect the lawful rights and interests of Chinese nationals in the Philippines.”

Furthermore, the foreign ministry urged Manila to cease spreading groundless accusations regarding the arrest of the Chinese national.

Suspects visited military installations, critical infrastructure

The arrested suspects reportedly visited key military installations, including sites under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) between the Philippines and the United States. According to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the group gathered and transmitted sensitive information through advanced equipment, which could potentially be used for military purposes.

One of the suspects, identified as 39-year-old Deng Yuanqing, is a Chinese national and software engineer alleged to have links to a university affiliated with the People’s Liberation Army. The institution specializes in modern warfare and cybersecurity.

Authorities revealed that Deng, who has been traveling to and from the country since 2015, is married to a Filipina. Officials say the group operated under the guise of autonomous vehicle developers while collecting data on critical infrastructure.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) disclosed that six individuals are believed to be part of the network, with three reportedly residing in China.

AFP has raised concerns about foreign entities mapping the country’s strategic assets, citing incidents involving espionage, the recovery of underwater drones, and fake identities of foreign nationals.

AFP spokesperson Colonel Francel Margeth Padilla said the military is “connecting the dots” and examining the broader implications of these incidents. Meanwhile, Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, spokesperson for the Philippine Navy in the West Philippine Sea, refrained from directly implicating China, stating, “We base our statements on facts and will avoid speculation.”

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