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Friday, February 7, 2025

Typhon missiles moved amid foreign spies concern

The Typhon missile launchers deployed in the Philippines by US forces last year have been moved to an undisclosed location within the country, a move that coincidentally came less than a week after local authorities arrested an alleged foreign spy who was undertaking “mapping” operations on certain military locations.

Redeploying the missile battery would help assess how quickly and effectively it could be moved to a new firing position, a senior Philippine government official told Reuters.

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This manner of mobility is considered crucial for enhancing the launchers’ survivability should a conflict with a foreign power break out.

Satellite imagery showed the missile batteries and related equipment being loaded onto C-17 transport aircraft at Laoag International Airport, said Jeffrey Lewis from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies.

Meanwhile, The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said it is taking reports of alleged foreign espionage operations in the Philippines “seriously” and is prepared to respond as needed.

The DFA acknowledged the reports and the ongoing investigation led by law enforcement agencies into suspected espionage activities allegedly involving a foreign national in collaboration with Filipinos.

“In accordance with its mandate to help protect national security, the Department takes any indication of espionage operations by foreign nationals seriously, and stands ready to support the Department of Justice, the National Bureau of Investigation, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and other relevant government agencies as they undertake their respective mandates in accordance with the law,” the DFA said in a statement on Thursday.

Earlier this week, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) reported the arrest of a Chinese national, identified as Deng Yuanqing, along with two Filipino accomplices, on suspicion of espionage.

Authorities recovered equipment from Deng that they believe could have been used to spy on military facilities.

In response, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning accused the Philippines of “peddling” the narrative of a “Chinese spy.”

Mao reiterated that the Chinese government consistently instructs its nationals overseas “to comply with local laws and regulations.”

“We hope the Philippines will stick to the fact, stop shadow-chasing, stop peddling the so-called ‘Chinese spy,’ and earnestly protect the lawful rights and interests of Chinese nationals in the Philippines,” Mao said.

As this developed, Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez urged the House of Representatives to immediately approve his two bills that seek to expand the definition of espionage and punish spying in times of peace.

The lawmaker made the appeal in the wake of the arrest by the police and the military of suspected Chinese spy Deng Yuanqing and two Filipino associates.

“The arrest of these suspected Chinese and Filipino spies should prompt Congress to immediately pass bills that would expand the coverage of the crime of espionage,” Rodriguez said.

He filed two bills in October last year to punish espionage in times of peace and to expand the crime’s definition.

He introduced the two measures days after Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. appealed to Congress to amend the country’s 85-year-old espionage law, which “is only effective during times of war.”

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