MANILA, Philippines — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has arrested six Chinese nationals and a Filipino on a private island in Zambales for allegedly conducting surveillance activities near the contested West Philippine Sea.
The suspects were arrested on March 19 during a hot-pursuit operation at Grande Island, located within the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.
The operation followed a tip from military officials about possible “covert intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations” being carried out by affiliated members of the Chinese Communist Party-United Front Work.
The NBI identified the Chinese nationals as He Peng, Xu Xining,…