China urged the Philippines on Wednesday, January 22, to stop spreading baseless accusations related to the arrest of a Chinese national allegedly involved in espionage in Luzon.
According to Mao Ning, spokesperson of China's foreign ministry, they are reminding their citizens to follow the local laws in the countries they are visiting. He also encouraged the authorities in the Philippines to protect the rights of Chinese living in the country.
On Monday, January 20, military and police officials reported the arrest of a Chinese national and two Filipinos for espionage. They are accused of conducting surveillance on military and civilian facilities, including Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites.
Chinese national Deng Yuanqing was identified, according to Col. Francel Magareth Padilla of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, spent more than a month starting December 2024 mapping the areas from northern Luzon to Bicol.
According to the Bureau of Immigration (BI), Deng has lived in the Philippines for more than 10 years and has a Filipina wife. Since 2015, he has been traveling in and out of the country often.
BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado added that Deng will not be deported until the cases filed against him in the local court are resolved.
Deng and his two Filipino accomplices were arrested at a condominium in Makati City on January 17. A vehicle equipped with locator and mapping devices capable of providing exact coordinates down to the centimeter was confiscated from them.
