Philippines’ arrest of Chinese ‘sleeper agent’ sparks fears of widespread spying

A group comprising Deng Yuanqing and two Filipinos is accused of spying on Philippine military bases, including where US troops have access

Reading Time:3 minutes

Chinese national Deng Yuanqing (middle) with an unidentified Filipino companion in handcuffs escorted to the Department of Justice office in Manila on Monday. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 3:00pm, 21 Jan 2025

Philippine authorities have arrested a Chinese national suspected of conducting espionage operations, recovering equipment in his possession that they believe might have been used for spying on military facilities.

Law enforcers and military officials presented the suspect, identified as Deng Yuanqing, at a press conference in Manila on Monday, and two Filipinos who were allegedly also involved in the case.

Officials from the Philippines’ National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said Deng was a “control engineering” specialist and was arrested with his Filipino companions in Makati City on January 17.

Authorities added that Deng was affiliated with the Army Engineering University of PLA (People’s Liberation Army), a military university based in Nanjing.

NBI Director Jaime Santiago said local authorities received intelligence information about Deng and his group in December, indicating they had arrived in the Philippines to conduct surveillance on critical structures such as military bases and police camps.

Cybercrime chief Jeremy Lotoc said Deng, whom he dubbed a “sleeper agent”, might have been in the Philippines for about five years based on his passport.