The National Bureau of Investigation-Special Task Force (NBI-STF) of Philippines, under the supervision of NBI Director Judge Jaime B. Santiago (Ret.), arrested five Chinese nationals engaged in illegal intelligence gathering that jeopardizes national security.

The arrested people were identified as Cai Shaohuang, also known as Richard Tan Chua – the group’s alleged field commander; Cheng Hai Tao; Wu Cheng Ting; Wang Yong Yi and Wu Chin Ren.

"Following the apprehension of Deng Yuanqing, and his local cohorts last January 17, 2025 for violation of the Espionage Act, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) conducted a follow-up casing and surveillance operations on a group suspected of collaborating with Deng," the NBI-STF said in a statement.

The NBI-STF said this group is believed to have engaged in aerial reconnaissance via drone operations, collecting data from the Philippines’ naval assets, among others.

Intelligence gathering disclosed that a group of Chinese nationals was monitored in Barangay Buenavista, Puerto Princesa City, posing as buyers of marine products, roaming around the city, and surveying for stations selling the products.

The group, however, was seen frequenting Ulugan Bay, Puerto Princesa, Palawan, conducting aerial surveillance and reconnaissance, collecting imagery intelligence on the Naval Detachment Oyster Bay (NDOB) in Barangay Bahile, which is part of the Philippine Navy’s Naval Forces West (Navforwest) and is strategically positioned near the South China Sea.

Acting on the information, the NBI-STF Agents conducted a validation process and identified five members of the group, all of whom were Chinese nationals and members of the Qiaoxing Volunteer Group of the Philippines, as well as the Philippine China Association of Promotion of Peace and Friendship, Inc.

In a series of hot-pursuit operation conducted by NBI Agents on January 24-25, 2025, Chinese nationals were monitored which resulted in their arrest.