Former Chinese tycoon She Zhijiang is fighting extradition from Thailand, where he was arrested in August 2022. In September 2024, he told Al Jazeera that he is in fact a Chinese spy. She claimed he was recruited in 2016 in the Philippines, and that the former mayor of the country's Bamban City, Alice Guo, is also a Chinese spy. Philippine Senator Risa Hontiveros is leading the investigation into Guo, and says she wants to speak to She, who may hold information on yet another suspected Chinese spy operating in the Philippines, Michael Yang.

The Chinese Embassy has yet to issue a statement on Guo, but said earlier in 2024 that fears about spies are antiChinese sentiments. They urged relevant parties in the Philippines to "stop spinning false narratives and arousing antiChina sentiments." How deep is Chinese infiltration in the Philippines, and what does it say about SinoPhilippines relations as well as Beijing’s global intentions?

Our guests:

Liou Tohai
National Chengchi University College of International Affairs Adjunct Distinguished Professor

Patrick Dave Q. Bugarin
Philippine International Studies Organization VicePresident for Linkages