China arrests three Filipinos suspected of spying
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The Philippine military presents to reporters five alleged Chinese spies on Jan 30.
PHOTO: AFP
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BEIJING – China said it had “destroyed” an intelligence network set up by the Philippine espionage agency and arrested three spies from the country.
The announcement on April 3 came as the two countries continue to confront each other over disputed territory in the South China Sea and tensions mount over the Philippines’ security ties with its ally, the US.
At least five Chinese nationals were arrested on suspicion of espionage
The latest arrests in China come two days after the Chinese embassy in Manila issued a travel warning to its citizens about frequent “harassment” from Philippine law enforcement agencies.
On April 3, state broadcaster CCTV reported that the Chinese authorities identified one of the suspected spies as a Philippine national who has lived and worked in China for a long time and has been found conducting espionage near military facilities.
The CCTV report included a video of his arrest and what appeared to be a recorded confession.
He was recruited by Philippine intelligence services to “take advantage of his long-term residence in China to conduct espionage activities in China and collect sensitive information, especially on military deployment”.
He came close to military facilities multiple times and “conducted close observation and secret photography”, CCTV said.
The three individuals were recruited by the same Philippine spy in 2021 and received regular payment for their work, CCTV said.
They were also tasked with “assisting the Philippine spy intelligence agency in selecting and developing personnel, and expanding its intelligence network in China”.
They provided “a large amount of military-related and confidential video materials” to Philippine agents, “causing serious harm to China’s national security and interests”, CCTV quoted a Chinese national security officer as saying.
Manila’s National Security Council spokesman Jonathan Malaya told AFP news agency the country’s Foreign Ministry was “currently confirming these reports and the involvement of any Philippine national, if any”.
“We have no further comment as at this time until we are able to verify these new reports,” he added.
Asked about the charges, Beijing’s Foreign Ministry said it would “handle the cases in accordance with the law and will also safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of the relevant personnel”.
But its spokesman Guo Jiakun also accused Manila of having “fabricated several so-called Chinese espionage cases”.
“China urges the Philippines to stop chasing shadows and pinning labels on people,” Mr Guo said. AFP
