Philippines urged to avoid ‘sensationalising’ arrests of Chinese nationals amid Sinophobia fears

Chinese-Filipino civic leader calls for fair probe into arrest of Chinese national Deng Yuanqing for allegedly spying on military and police facilities

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Philippine military chief General Romeo Brawner (front right) speaks alongside National Bureau of Investigation chief Jaime Santiago (front centre) and undersecretary of the Department of Justice Raul Vasquez (front left) during the presentation of five arrested alleged Chinese spies (back row) in Manila on Wednesday. Photo: AFP

Published: 5:00pm, 1 Feb 2025

Chinese-Filipino leaders are calling on Philippine authorities to exercise caution in “sensationalising” the recent arrests of Chinese nationals in the country for alleged espionage, warning it could fuel suspicion and discrimination against their community.

Observers warn that amplifying such claims without solid evidence risks inflaming anti-Chinese sentiment, hurting tourism and politicising national security. They say a measured approach is needed to ensure fair investigations while preventing unnecessary paranoia.

Officials announced on Thursday that five Chinese nationals had been arrested in Palawan for allegedly conducting surveillance on a Philippine Coast Guard ship near the Spratly Islands.

Authorities said the suspects, who posed as Taiwanese tourists, installed high-resolution, solar-powered cameras at a seaside resort to monitor coastguard and navy movements. Residents reportedly saw them recording military activity.

The arrests follow the January 17 capture of Chinese national Deng Yuanqing and two Filipino associates in Makati, who were accused of spying on military and police facilities. Investigators have since linked the five new suspects to Deng.

Chinese national Deng Yuanqing (second from right) with an unidentified Filipino companion (second from left) are escorted inside the Department of Justice office in Manila, the Philippines, on January 20. Photo: EPA-EFE

Lucio Pitlo III, a geopolitical analyst and president of the Philippine Association for Chinese Studies, told This Week in Asia that while authorities should not downplay espionage cases, “we should avoid sensationalising them”.