Philippine officials announced Thursday that six Chinese nationals and one Filipino person have been arrested for spying on American and Philippine ships at Subic Bay Navy Base.
The Philippine National Investigation Agency (NBI) has launched an investigation after receiving hints from military information about “a foreigner suspected of carrying out secret intelligence reporting agencies, surveillance and reconnaissance operations” near Grande Island.
Grande Island is picturesque Tourist Resort The Subic Bay Freeport Zone is a special economic zone built around the famous bay to encourage commercial and tourism. Until World War II, the island had fortresses that protected the strategically important port facilities in Subic Bay. The location at the entrance to the bay makes it a good place for secret surveillance work.
Subic Bay was a significant US Navy base location until 1992. In that year, the Navy lease on the property expired and was not renewed, but the American ships still It works It leaves the bay alongside the Philippine Navy.
Ironically, when the Philippine Navy chose to build a new home port facility in Subic Bay, it was obliged to lease the property from an American hedge fund that it purchased several years ago. The Philippine Coast Guard and Air Force also have bases in Subic Bay.
The NBI has conducted surveillance operations against six Chinese suspects identified by military intelligence and concluded that they are engaged in “suspecting activities” “including collections of sensitive data.” The seventh suspect, a Filipino citizen, is said to have worked as a Chinese security guard.
According to the NBI, the suspect I tried to run away When faced with law enforcement and was taken into custody after a lively chase. Their Filipino bodyguards were carrying unregistered firearms when he was arrested.
“These individuals have revealed that they are occupying the island under the guise of recreational fishermen.
“However, several witnesses reported that the group was using drones under the guise of transporting fishery bait, which runs through Grande Island, carrying out monitoring naval assets, including people from local troops and allies,” he said.
Witnesses reported seeing a Chinese suspect operating the drone as likely part of a “fishing game,” but in reality the drone had flew through Philippine and US naval assets to take photos and collect other information about them. The NBI said the Elsatz fishermen were able to spy on numerous naval vessels coming and going from Subic Bay for patrols and movement.
The NBI said the Chinese group was able to invade Subic Bay International Airport while receiving US military equipment intended for use in joint exercises.
The NBI arrested another group of six Chinese citizens in January with somewhat similar charges. Previous groups were accused of conducting surveillance activities in Palawan, which hosts Manila and the Philippine Naval Base.
The metropolitan authorities in Subic Bay are It is reportedly As tensions with China are rising, it is considering cancelling contracts with Chinese investment groups that have invested in other regions around Grande and Subic Bay. The Philippine military has long been concerned about security risks from China's holdings near sensitive naval facilities.
