The Filipino wife of a Chinese national arrested recently in the Philippines for alleged espionage denied on Monday (Jan 27) that her husband was a spy, saying he worked for a company specialising in self-driving cars.

The Filipino wife of a Chinese national accused of espionage said her husband is not a spy, in a case that comes against the backdrop of geopolitical tensions between the Philippines and China.

Noemi Deng, wife of arrested Chinese national Deng Yuanqing, spoke on Monday during a press conference in Metro Manila. Deng Yuanqing and two Filipinos were arrested by local authorities on 17 January in Metro Manila,

The wife of the Chinese national who was arrested for alleged espionage activities with two other Filipinos denied that her husband is a spy. “Hindi po spy si [Yuangin] po (Yuangin is not a spy)," a sobbing Noemi Deng said at a press conference Monday.