The wife of a Chinese national arrested on espionage charges in the Philippines has vehemently denied the allegations, asserting her husband was simply conducting research for self-driving cars, Bloomberg reports.
The case has surfaced amidst heightened geopolitical tensions between the Philippines and China, adding another layer of complexity to the already strained relationship.
Deng Yuanqing, along with two Filipino associates, was apprehended by Philippine authorities on January 17. Officials allege that Deng was engaged in espionage activities, citing the discovery of navigational equipment in his vehicle. They claim Deng used this equipment over a month to access areas near critical infrastructure and military installations on the main island of Luzon.
However, Deng’s wife, Noemi Deng, speaking at a briefing in Manila on Monday, dismissed these claims. “He is not a spy,” she said firmly, explaining that her husband was instead surveying roads for purposes related to self-driving vehicles. Visibly upset, she was unable to offer further details and left the briefing prematurely.
Noemi Deng explained that she met her husband through a Chinese social networking app and they have been married since 2014. When pressed for more information about her husband’s employer, she admitted she was not in a position to provide details.
A lawyer accompanying Noemi, Ferdinand Topacio, sharply criticized the Philippine authorities’ handling of the case, labeling it as a “trial by publicity.” Topacio expressed concern that the situation could further exacerbate already fragile relations between China and the Philippines.
The arrest of Deng Yuanqing comes as the Philippines and China are locked in a tense maritime dispute in the South China Sea. Numerous confrontations between vessels from the two nations have occurred in the past year. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has taken a firm stance against China’s expansive claims in the region, a move that has drawn the ire of Beijing.
