Philippine security officials announced Thursday that classified details about the country’s naval supply operations in the South China Sea were stolen and delivered to Chinese intelligence operatives.
National Security Council spokesperson Cornelio Valencia disclosed the security breach one day after Manila revealed it had detained several Filipino citizens suspected of conducting espionage activities for China in what authorities described as a “serious national security matter.”
Valencia characterized the intelligence leak as “alarming” while noting its limited extent, and confirmed that communication methods used to transfer the sensitive data have been terminated.
“Rotation and resupply data fall under operational security because disclosing it can endanger personnel, and that has been compromised,” Valencia stated.
The South China Sea has become a flashpoint for tensions, with Philippine and Chinese naval forces regularly clashing during Manila’s missions to resupply its military outposts in the contested waters. Recent weeks have seen increasingly hostile public disputes between Chinese diplomatic officials, Philippine legislators, and Coast Guard representatives regarding the disputed maritime region.
Valencia confirmed that authorities have detained three Filipino nationals and indicated “there could be more.” He refused to specify whether formal criminal charges would be pursued.
Reuters previously interviewed the three suspects last month under conditions requiring anonymity, as arranged with security sources.
One detained individual, who accessed intelligence about military deployments, supply operations, and staff rotations through connections with a Philippine Coast Guard employee, admitted to transmitting this information using a specially provided mobile device.
The suspect demonstrated the phone to Reuters, which featured a Tetris video game that, when activated with a secret code, revealed a concealed messaging application used for handler communication.
“What I can say is that they’re cooperating with our security services,” Valencia explained. “They have confessed and admitted to it. They disclosed the data that they were able to get and share, the assessments they made and how they were recruited.”
Beijing’s Foreign Ministry dismissed Manila’s espionage allegations Thursday, declaring: “We object to it, the case is not clear and there is no conclusive evidence.”
A second suspect revealed to Reuters that a Filipino woman initially contacted him while he worked as a junior employee at the Department of National Defence, offering payment for writing opinion pieces.
The arrangement eventually evolved into providing intelligence about South China Sea matters and the defense department’s diplomatic cooperation with Philippine partners, including the United States, according to his account.
He explained that he initially remained unaware of his work for Chinese operatives and only grew suspicious later, but found it difficult to withdraw due to financial necessity. He said this activity occurred from 2023 through 2025.
This recruitment approach reflects tactics observed in other international intelligence campaigns, where apparently legitimate consulting or writing opportunities serve as initial contact points before gradually escalating into requests for classified materials.
Reuters previously reported that organizations connected to Chinese interests have employed consulting companies and secret employment opportunities to target individuals, frequently exploiting economic hardships and progressively seeking increasingly sensitive data – a strategy experts identify as consistent with established Chinese intelligence methods.
Philippine legislators from both government and opposition parties are working to modernize outdated espionage legislation that would broaden their historically wartime-focused scope to address peacetime and cyber-enabled security threats.
