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Wednesday, February 5, 2025

China Embassy denies spy allegations; asks for access to suspect

(His) equipment was used to map and survey critical infrastructures, strategic areas including police and military camps, ports, and even malls, airports, seaports, and the country’s communication and energy grid. —AFP spokesperson Col. Margareth Padilla

The Chinese Embassy in the Philippines called on the government to cease making “baseless accusations” regarding the alleged “Chinese spy” and confirmed it has requested consular access to provide assistance to the Chinese national.

Chinese national Deng Yuanqing, along with two Filipinos, was arrested by Philippine authorities last Monday on suspicion of spying on key civilian and military installations.

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The suspect had been posing as a businessman to conceal his true intentions, a high-ranking military official said.

“This Chinese national has been residing in the Philippines for over 10 years, married to a Filipina, and established businesses in the country,” said Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Col. Margareth Padilla in an interview.

“These businesses served as fronts to receive substantial funds for their illicit activities.”

Padilla revealed that the individual utilized high-precision equipment for topographic mapping and 3D modeling to gather data on military installations and critical infrastructure within the Philippines.

“This equipment was used to map and survey critical infrastructures, strategic areas including police and military camps, ports, and even malls, airports, seaports, and the country’s communication and energy grid,” she explained.

The AFP is committed to releasing further data recovered from the seized equipment after forensic analysis is complete, the official said.

AFP Chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. stated that this was the second arrest of a suspected Chinese spy since last year. Forensic analysis of equipment seized in the previous arrest also revealed images of military and police camps in Manila.

“The family of the Chinese citizen in custody approached the Embassy with concerns about his safety and fair treatment, presenting facts that differ from the accusations made by Philippine authorities,” the Embassy said in a statement.

“We urge the Philippine side to base its judgment on facts, not presumptions of guilt, and to stop airing groundless speculations about the so-called ‘Chinese spy case,’” it added.

The Embassy emphasized the importance of handling such cases in accordance with the law, “fulfilling the obligations under the bilateral consular treaty, and protecting the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens in the Philippines.”

Teresita Ang See, co-founder of the Filipino-Chinese community group Kaisa Para sa Kaunlaran, questioned the allegations of espionage and called for an “impartial investigation” of the matter.

“It is a big jump to an iffy conclusion that China is spying on the Philippines just because a technician has road surveying instruments in his car,” Ang See said.

“In our country, where ‘marites’ (gossip) is a national pastime, there is no need for spying. Conspiracy theories of espionage and sleeper agents only serve to stir up tensions in Philippines-China relations,” she added.

Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline “Chinese Embassy denies alleged spy in Philippines as ‘baseless accusation’.”

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