Four Chinese nationals accused of espionage in the Philippines were found to have led organizations affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), which made cash and vehicle donations to local governments and police forces, according to reports from Reuters.
The suspects were among five Chinese men arrested in late January for allegedly flying drones to spy on Philippine naval sites near the South China Sea. The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said images and maps of sensitive military areas were found on their devices. They have since been charged with espionage, an offense punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
Investigations revealed that three of the four accused were involved in donations made to the city of Tarlac and police forces in Manila and Tarlac through Chinese-backed civic groups in 2022. The groups, linked to Beijing’s influence network, continued hosting events with local officials through 2024.
The five detainees were also reported to have met with China’s military attaché in Manila, Senior Col. Li Jianzhong, on multiple occasions in the months leading up to their arrest. However, the Chinese foreign ministry denied any government involvement, stating that the civic groups operate independently.
Philippine authorities have not disclosed whom the accused were allegedly working for, but Beijing dismissed the espionage allegations as baseless. The arrests have intensified tensions between Manila and Beijing, as the Philippines strengthens ties with the U.S. amid ongoing territorial disputes in the South China Sea.
