6 Chinese Nationals Arrested For Spying On US & Philippine Navy Ships In Subic Bay

Philippine authorities have arrested six Chinese nationals and a Filipino citizen on espionage charges for conducting intelligence-gathering activities on U.S. and Philippine naval vessels in Subic Bay.

The operation, led by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in coordination with local law enforcement and Philippine Navy SEALs, took place last week on Grande Island, a strategically located area at the entrance of Subic Bay.

NBI Director Jaime Santiago personally led the raid, during which the suspects attempted to flee. The arrested Chinese nationals have been identified as Nan Ke, Xu Xining, Ye Xiaocan, Dick Ang, Su Anlong, and Qui Feng (also known as Quing Feng).

A Filipino citizen, Melvin Aguillon, who acted as their bodyguard, was also taken into custody for carrying an unregistered firearm.

Authorities later clarified that an initial report misidentified one of the arrested suspects, originally believed to be a Chinese national, as a Cambodian citizen. Immigration records revealed that the foreign nationals frequently entered and exited the Philippines.

According to Philippine military intelligence, the group disguised themselves as fishermen and tourists while gathering sensitive data on naval operations.

TINGNAN: Narekober ng NBI ang mga larawan at video na ito ng mga US naval vessel at iba pang barko sa mga cellphone ng mga nahuling umano’y dayuhang espiya sa Subic, Zambales. | via @_KarenDeGuzman pic.twitter.com/9KudDWW2D1

— ABS-CBN News (@ABSCBNNews) March 26, 2025

Witnesses reported seeing them flying drones around the bay, allegedly under the pretense of fishing activities. These drones were suspected of being used for surveillance of U.S. and Philippine military assets.

Authorities discovered multiple photographs of U.S. and Philippine naval vessels on the suspects’ devices, including images of USS Savannah (LCS-28), an Independence-class littoral combat ship, and a Henry J. Kaiser–class replenishment oiler.

Other seized evidence included handwritten documents in Chinese, detailing the movements of ships entering and exiting Subic Bay.

Investigators also found evidence that the group infiltrated Subic Bay International Airport, where they monitored the arrival and departure of American military equipment brought in for joint exercises.

Since the U.S. withdrawal from Naval Base Subic Bay in 1992, the area has been under the jurisdiction of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA).

The NBI stated that counter-intelligence efforts revealed the suspects were operating under directives aligned with geopolitical objectives. “Subic Bay Freeport is NOT a safe haven for lawbreakers,” SBMA Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose L. Aliño emphasised in an official statement.

Further investigation into the group’s activities also linked one of the arrested suspects, Ye Tianwu (also known as Qui Feng or Quing Feng), to an outstanding arrest warrant in the Philippines for securities code violations.

Philippine authorities have stated that security measures in Subic Bay will be further tightened. Meanwhile, the SBMA is reviewing the lease of the Chinese-operated resort on Grande Island, where the arrested suspects were reportedly staying.

The Chinese embassy in Manila has not yet issued an official response regarding the arrests.

Reference: NBI

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