Five Chinese citizens have been arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in the Philippines on suspicion of engaging in spy activities. The NBI announced on January 30 that these individuals were allegedly operating drones to collect images and maps near the South China Sea, specifically the Philippines’ naval area. Sensitive locations and photographs of ships were found on their phones by investigators.
According to Reuters, these individuals, including Wang Yongyi, Wu Junren, Cai Shaohuang, and Chen Haitao, are accused of being leaders of a civilian group affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party’s overseas united front network. They were reported to have made donations to the main military base location in Tarlac, as well as providing motorcycles to two police forces.
The NBI claims that these individuals could face up to 20 years in prison for espionage. However, the Chinese Communist Party denies the accusations of engaging in spy activities, labeling it as a “smear campaign” against Beijing.
Wang, Wu, Cai, and Chen were reportedly leading the Filipino Chinese Association for Peace and Development, a civilian group established in 2016. This association subsequently founded another entity in 2022 called the “Philippine Overseas Volunteer Service Corps” (referred to as Overseas Stars). Both of these groups were supervised by the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, an organization led by the Chinese Communist Party engaging in united front work.
Unfortunately, the lawyers representing these individuals have not been confirmed, and their defense strategy remains uncertain. These individuals have not publicly commented on their arrests, and inquiries made by the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines have gone unanswered.
Despite the denial of any affiliation with the Chinese government by these groups, Wang, Wu, and Cai reportedly made donations to Tarlac and the police forces in 2022 through organizations supported by the Chinese Communist Party. The purpose of these donations remains unclear.
Tarlac is home to a major military base where the Philippines and the United States conduct live-fire exercises during annual military drills. However, according to NBI, photos of the military base in the area were not found among the images taken by these Chinese citizens.
In July 2022, an article was posted on the social media account of the ACFROC Shandong branch featuring a photo of Wang Yongyi presenting a check worth 500,000 Philippine pesos (8,600 USD) to the mayor of Tarlac marked as “poverty alleviation and scholarship fund.” Similar activities continued in the following months.
In September of the same year, Wang Yongyi, Wu Junren, and Cai Shaohuang donated ten Sinski motorbikes, manufactured in China, to the Manila police force, valued at around 2,500 USD. A video broadcast by local media showed Wang smiling alongside Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna and exchanging fist bumps with a police chief.
Mayor Lacuna’s office confirmed that this was the only meeting between the mayor and any members of the group. Additionally, Overseas Stars donated ten patrol cars to the Tarlac police force and city government in the same month.
The ACFROC Shandong branch posted on their social media account quoting Cai Shaohuang saying that the purpose of Overseas Stars is to “tell a good Chinese story” and “make the future of Sino-Philippine friendship even brighter.”
All five detainees were reported to have met with Chinese Military Attache Li Jianzhong at least once in the weeks leading up to their arrest. Photographs and videos also showed Wang, Wu, and Cai meeting with the military attache multiple times in 2024, including an office opening ceremony in Manila attended by Li Jianzhong in May of the previous year.
These revelations provided by Reuters exceed the public statements made by the Philippine investigators, who described these individuals as seemingly “harmless” members of purportedly legitimate groups.
Furthermore, the Chinese groups in question have promoted regular interactions with Li Jianzhong, the Chinese Embassy’s military attache. Photos on their website showed the four individuals dining with Li Jianzhong and the pro-Beijing governor of Cagayan province, Manuel Mamba, during an award ceremony in June 2024.
Manuel Mamba confirmed that he had posed for photos with them but recalled no conversation. Notably, the Philippines currently lacks specific foreign intervention laws, although discussions are in progress, given the escalating tensions with China.
Rommel Jude Ong, a retired Navy Rear Admiral in the Philippines, noted in a recent academic paper that Chinese businessmen and overseas networks play a crucial role in advancing Beijing’s agenda, influencing local governments through economic incentives and donations.
The Chinese Communist Party’s United Front Work Department oversees influence operations conducted by Chinese diaspora, a tool described by Chinese leader Xi Jinping as a “magic weapon.” According to the US State Department, the United Front Work Department infiltrates governments worldwide by propagating and manipulating susceptible individuals and audiences.
Recent weeks have seen the arrest of several individuals accused of being Chinese spies, further straining relations between the two countries. Don McLain Gill, an expert in international relations at De La Salle University in Manila, emphasized the need for the Philippines to reassess its national security outlook beyond traditional threats in light of these recent developments.
Government spokespeople in the Philippines did not respond to Reuters’ requests for comments on this matter.