Chinese Nationals Detained for Alleged Espionage Activities Targeting US and Philippine Naval Operations in Subic Bay

Image Credits: Wikipedia

In a recent operation, Philippine authorities apprehended six Chinese individuals and one Filipino for allegedly spying on U.S. and Philippine naval vessels in Subic Bay. this crackdown was spearheaded by the National Bureau of Examination (NBI), working alongside local law enforcement and Navy seals.

The raid unfolded last week on Grande Island, a key spot at Subic Bay’s entrance. NBI Director Jaime Santiago took charge of the operation, which saw the suspects attempting to escape as authorities closed in. The chinese nationals involved have been named as Nan Ke, Xu Xining, Ye Xiaocan, Dick Ang, Su Anlong, and Qui Feng (also known as Quing Feng). Melvin Aguillon, a Filipino who reportedly served as their bodyguard while carrying an unregistered firearm, was also arrested.

Initially misidentified in reports as Cambodian nationals due to confusion over immigration records—these individuals had frequently traveled in and out of the Philippines—the group is now confirmed to be Chinese citizens. Military intelligence suggests they posed as fishermen or tourists while secretly collecting sensitive information about naval operations.

Witnesses noted that these suspects were seen flying drones around the bay under the guise of fishing activities; these devices are believed to have been used for surveillance purposes targeting military assets from both nations.

Authorities seized various items from their possession including numerous photographs of U.S. naval vessels like USS Savannah (LCS-28) along with handwritten notes in Chinese that detailed ship movements within Subic Bay.

Additionally, investigators uncovered evidence indicating that this group had infiltrated subic Bay International Airport to monitor American military equipment arriving for joint exercises—a clear breach of security protocols as the area transitioned from U.S. control back in 1992 under the management of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA).

The NBI has stated that their counter-intelligence efforts revealed these suspects were acting according to broader geopolitical strategies. SBMA Chairman Eduardo Jose L. Aliño firmly declared that “Subic Bay Freeport is NOT a safe haven for lawbreakers,” reinforcing their commitment to security.

Further inquiries linked one suspect—Ye Tianwu (or Qui Feng)—to an existing arrest warrant related to securities violations within Philippine jurisdiction.

Considering these events, officials are ramping up security measures across Subic Bay while reviewing leases held by Chinese-operated businesses on Grande Island where some suspects were staying during their espionage activities.

As it stands now, there has been no official comment from the Chinese embassy regarding this incident.