- Espionage Without Borders: China, Pakistan, and the Expanding Intelligence Battlespace in Asia
- From Manila to New Delhi: The Rising Threat of Espionage in the Indo-Pacific
- Covert Frontlines: Chinese and Pakistan-Backed Intelligence Operations and the New Security Reality
- Surveillance, Subversion, and Sovereignty: Espionage as the New Geopolitical Weapon
By Jai Kumar Verma
New Delhi. 19 December 2025. Espionage has re-emerged as one of the most potent and destabilising instruments of modern geopolitics, blurring the lines between peace and conflict across the Indo-Pacific. From the arrest of alleged Chinese spy networks in the Philippines to the uncovering of Pakistan-linked espionage rings across India, intelligence operations are increasingly shaping national security calculations in Asia. These developments unfold against a backdrop of intensifying great-power rivalry, contested maritime domains, expanding military alliances, and rapidly evolving digital technologies. As states reassess vulnerabilities within their borders, the cases highlighted in recent months underscore a sobering reality: sovereignty today is challenged not only by military force, but by covert networks operating quietly within societies themselves.
Philippines emerged as a key front in growing global concerns over Chinese espionage, following the arrest of several Chinese nationals and local collaborators accused of secretly gathering intelligence on military and strategic sites. The alleged spy network, uncovered amid escalating tensions in the South China Sea, has drawn international attention and heightened diplomatic strain between Manila and Beijing. Set against a backdrop of great-power rivalry, expanding U.S. Philippine defense cooperation, and long-running maritime disputes, the case underscores how espionage and security competition are increasingly shaping geopolitics in Southeast Asia.
China has increased its spying activities around the world. In 2025, Philippine authorities arrested Chinese and Filipino nationals on espionage charges as they were accused of secretly mapping military bases and other sensitive locations. These arrests come at a time of rising tensions between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea. In another case, two Chinese nationals were arrested in South Korea after they used drones to film a South Korean naval base and a U.S. aircraft carrier. Meanwhile, a leading international newspaper reported that British prosecutors dropped a high-profile espionage case in Westminster that was linked to a senior Chinese official. This decision raised concerns about diplomacy and political pressure.
The dispute between China and the Philippines centers on the South China Sea particularly in the West Philippine Sea, which the Philippines refers to as its sovereign territory. Both countries claim parts of this area, which is important because of its shipping routes, fishing grounds, and potential oil and gas resources. The Philippines has accused China of aggressive actions near its waters, while China continues to assert broad territorial claims.
In 2025, the Philippines stepped up its counter-espionage operations after authorities said that they uncovered a large and well-established network of suspected Chinese spies in the country. The investigation involved arrests, surveillance findings, and coordination among several government agencies. The case has sparked national security concerns in Manila and added strain to diplomatic relations with Beijing. Foreign spying became a major issue in the Philippines in early 2025 after the National Bureau of Investigation and the Armed Forces began arresting suspects accused of gathering sensitive information. Authorities said the targets included military bases, government sites, and locations linked to defense cooperation with allied countries. Philippine investigators revealed that the suspects used drones, mapping tools, and other surveillance methods to collect images and data on sensitive locations, including military bases, naval vessels, and key infrastructure.
In one high-profile case, four Chinese nationals were arrested after authorities found photos, maps, and drone footage of military installations. Officials said the men were linked to civic groups connected to Chinese influence networks and had allegedly provided cash and vehicles to local officials to gain trust and hide their activities. In another case five individuals accused of surveying U.S.-allied military sites and critical national facilities were arrested. Additional cases, such as the alleged monitoring of a Philippine Coast Guard vessel, reinforced concerns among security officials that foreign espionage activities were widespread, organized, and ongoing.
The Philippines did not carry out these investigations alone. Officials said Manila received technical support from foreign intelligence partners, including the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Australian Federal Police, especially in the areas of cybercrime and signals intelligence. This cooperation reflects shared strategic interests among the United States and its allies in countering foreign espionage and protecting sensitive military and infrastructure information in the Indo-Pacific. For the Philippines, these partnerships have strengthened investigative capacity and helped authorities analyse complex digital evidence.
China has strongly criticized the recent arrests of Chinese nationals in the Philippines, rejecting Manila’s allegations of espionage and accusing Philippine authorities of politicizing law enforcement. At the same time, Chinese authorities have detained several Filipino nationals in China on espionage-related charges, a move that Philippine officials have questioned as retaliatory.
The investigation into the alleged spy network has wider regional and strategic implications for the Philippines. Amid ongoing disputes with China in the South China Sea, the espionage allegations have added to existing tensions and reinforced Manila’s move to strengthen alliances with the United States and other Indo-Pacific partners. China’s increasingly assertive actions in the region, including coast guard encounters and military build-up, have already fuelled mistrust, and the spying allegations have further prompted Philippine authorities to reassess their intelligence and counter-intelligence priorities.
In recent years, Indian security agencies have uncovered a disturbing pattern of espionage-related activities involving Indian citizens allegedly working on behalf of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). A series of arrests across multiple states highlights how foreign intelligence agencies are increasingly targeting ordinary civilians, professionals, social media personalities, and even individuals with limited but strategically valuable access to information. These developments underline the evolving and deeply concerning nature of espionage threats facing India.
Security agencies have dismantled several Pakistan-linked spy networks spanning Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and other regions. Among those arrested were civilians from diverse backgrounds, including students, labourers, lawyers, government employees, and social media influencers. In one notable case, a lawyer from Nuh district was arrested for allegedly assisting ISI operatives and receiving financial compensation in return. Similarly, police in Punjab and Rajasthan apprehended a man from Firozpur accused of sharing sensitive military and strategic information through encrypted messaging platforms.
The arrest of a popular YouTuber, by Punjab Police drew significant attention, as it highlighted how social media influencers with large followings can be vulnerable to recruitment or coercion by hostile intelligence agencies. Such individuals, intentionally or otherwise, may become conduits for misinformation, intelligence gathering, or psychological operations. In another case, a 34-year-old man was arrested after traveling to Pakistan twice, where he allegedly met ISI operatives. Investigators claimed he helped in supply of Indian SIM cards that were then used by Pakistani handlers to extract sensitive information via WhatsApp and other applications.
Further reinforcing the seriousness of the threat, Punjab security forces detained an Indian Army soldier and an associate accused of passing classified military details to ISI during a period of heightened bilateral tensions. The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terror Squad also arrested a suspect, linked to cross-border espionage activities in western UP. In Rajasthan, a resident of Alwar was allegedly honey-trapped by a Pakistani handler and persuaded to share military-related information. Additionally, a state government employee in Jaisalmer was detained on suspicion of spying, underscoring that espionage networks may penetrate even routine administrative structures.
Taken together, these arrests indicate that foreign intelligence agencies are deliberately broadening their recruitment base. Rather than relying solely on high-ranking officials or military insiders, they increasingly exploit social media contacts through financial inducements, emotional manipulation, honey traps, and ideological vulnerabilities. The widespread use of mobile SIM cards, encrypted messaging applications, and digital payment systems has further facilitated covert communication and information transfer, making detection more challenging.
While many of these cases explicitly involve Pakistan’s ISI, the broader geopolitical context suggests that other foreign intelligence agencies may also be operating indirectly. In particular, China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS), the principal civilian intelligence and counterintelligence agency of the People’s Republic of China, cannot be ignored. As China pursues its ambition of becoming a global superpower, its economic influence has expanded dramatically, with goods exports contributing to a trade surplus estimated at around $1 trillion in 2025. Parallel to this economic rise, Beijing’s intelligence activities have increasingly drawn scrutiny across Southeast Asia, Europe, and other regions.
China’s own intelligence and national security laws grant its authorities sweeping powers to conduct overseas intelligence operations, reinforcing international concerns about the scale and scope of its activities abroad. Given the unresolved India–China border dispute and Beijing’s perception of India as a potential strategic rival, the risk of espionage targeting Indian political, military, technological, and economic interests cannot be discounted. It is therefore reasonable to anticipate that Chinese intelligence agencies may seek to gather sensitive information on India, either directly or through third parties.
In this context, the possibility that some espionage operations ostensibly linked to ISI may also align with broader strategic interests of China deserves careful consideration. While definitive evidence may not always be publicly available, intelligence cooperation or task delegation between hostile agencies is not unprecedented in international espionage. The growing number of arrests involving ordinary Indians strengthens suspicions that such networks may serve multiple foreign interests, with ISI potentially acting as an intermediary in certain cases.
The exposure of espionage networks linked to China and Pakistan across the Indo-Pacific reflects a deeper shift in how power is contested in the twenty-first century. Intelligence gathering, influence operations, and covert manipulation have become central tools of strategic competition, targeting not just military installations but civilian infrastructure, digital ecosystems, and social trust. For the Philippines, these revelations have accelerated counterintelligence reforms and reinforced security partnerships with trusted allies. For India, the arrest of civilians, professionals, and even serving personnel underscores the urgent need for heightened vigilance, stronger counterintelligence frameworks, and greater public awareness of hybrid threats. As geopolitical rivalries intensify, safeguarding national security will increasingly depend on resilience against invisible adversaries—those who operate in the shadows, exploit openness, and seek strategic advantage without ever firing a shot.
Given these challenges, India must remain exceptionally vigilant. Protecting national secrets, critical infrastructure, defense capabilities, and emerging strategic technologies is essential in an era marked by intensifying geopolitical competition. Strengthening counterintelligence capabilities, enhancing digital awareness among citizens, monitoring social media vulnerabilities, and fostering inter-agency coordination will be crucial. Ultimately, safeguarding national security today requires not only military preparedness but also resilience against covert threats operating in the shadows of everyday life.
(Jai Kumar Verma is a Delhi-based strategic analyst and Life Member of United Services Institute of India and The Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses. The views in the article are solely the author’s. He can be contacted at editor.adu@gmail.com)
