On January 17, 2025, Philippine law enforcement agents arrested Chinese national Deng Yuanqing along with two Filipinos under suspicions of spying for the People's Republic of China.
National Intelligence Coordinating Agency deputy director general Francisco Acedillo says that a Chinese spy network has long established itself in the economic and political landscape of the Philippines.
[9] The NBI with assistance from the Armed Forces of the Philippines conducted the arrest of Deng and two suspected Filipino accomplice in a condominium in Makati, Metro Manila on January 17, 2025.
[19][20] Authorities also confiscated a Toyota RAV4 equipped with a GNSS RPK Global Navigation Satellite System and data transmission tools.
[21] AFP Chief of Staff Romeo Brawner Jr. alleged that Deng's group was visiting military bases the Philippines granted access to the United States under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).
[23][24] Chinese Filipino civic leader Teresita Ang See was skeptical on about the accusation and insist its an "iffy conclusion" that Deng was committing espionage just because he has "road surveying instruments in his car".
He insist the equipment are military grade including a Light Detection and Ranging device[11] The NBI arrest five more suspected Chinese spies from January 24 to 25.
[11] The embassy of China in Manila maintains that the Chinese government always advises its citizens to abide by local laws and regulations.
[22] Figures in the Chinese Filipino community has cautioned against sensationalizing the espionage cases while recognizing the incidents shouldn't be downplayed.