Philippine authorities have arrested Deng Yuanqing, a Chinese software engineer, on suspicion of espionage activities targeting the country's military and police camps. Deng's arrest last week was part of broader counter-espionage operations amid rising tensions between the Philippines and China. Officials suspect that Deng, linked to a Chinese university controlled by the People's Liberation Army, was part of a team dispatched to conduct espionage within the Philippines.
The arrest has intensified concerns as maritime confrontations in the strategic South China Sea have escalated. Despite an international ruling negating China's expansive territorial claims, Beijing continues to assert control over most of the sea. The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Chief Jaime Santiago confirmed Deng's affiliation with institutions linked to the Chinese military, emphasizing the gravity of the situation.
Deng had reportedly made frequent visits to the Philippines. NBI's cybercrime chief Jeremy Lotoc highlighted that Deng was part of a group including hardware engineers and a financier, all receiving substantial weekly funding through "shell companies." The group's operations allegedly involved transmitting sensitive data, such as geographical coordinates and topography, which authorities consider alarming for national security.
"They were basically collecting data and they have this remote application which transmits outside the country in real time data that they collected in our country," said Jeremy Lotoc.
Philippine police have also recovered a suspected Chinese submarine drone off the central Philippines, compounding existing security concerns. Forensic analysis of equipment seized during a prior arrest revealed images of military and police establishments in Manila. Authorities are currently investigating potential connections among these incidents, including Deng's arrest and the discovery of the submarine drone.
General Romeo Brawner noted the possible implications of such activities for military strategy.
"Could be used for military targeting purposes."
The team Deng was part of allegedly received funding amounting to 1.5 million pesos (approximately US$26,000) weekly. The financial support came through entities designed to disguise their origins, raising further questions regarding the depth and scale of their operations. While Deng remains in custody, other members of his team remain at large, prompting an ongoing investigation by Philippine authorities.
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