For nearly two years, Chinese nationals were conducting intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance operations in key waterways in Palawan, which faces the West Philippine Sea.
Full story: https://www.rappler.com/philippines/china-spying-coast-guard-navy-palawan-what-we-know-so-far/
Full story: https://www.rappler.com/philippines/china-spying-coast-guard-navy-palawan-what-we-know-so-far/
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00:00For nearly two years, Chinese nationals were conducting intelligence, surveillance, and
00:05reconnaissance operations in key waterways in Palawan, which faces the West Philippine
00:10Sea.
00:11Five of these were presented to the media on Thursday, January 30.
00:14They were arrested between January 24 and 25, 2025.
00:19Armed Forces of the Philippines' Chief General Romeo Bronner says the military had long wondered
00:23how China seemed to know about missions as soon as ships left the ports.
00:27Bronner said the monitoring activities probably started in 2023 in the Lugan Bay of Puerto
00:32Princesa City in Palawan when they tried to install a CCTV camera near a beach resort.
00:37Two of the Chinese nationals were caught in 2024 installing a solar-powered CCTV camera
00:43in another resort in Buliluyantown in Palawan.
00:45Buliluyantown is the jump-off point for most PCG vessels.
00:49Intel operatives also say the group was conducting operations on Oyster Bay, the site of the
00:54Naval Forces West's detachment.
00:56The group also has ties to another Chinese national who was earlier arrested for alleged
01:00espionage operations in Luzon.
01:02But officials declined to conclude if these activities were sponsored by the People's
01:06Republic of China.