Manila raises alarm over arrest of three Filipinos in China

IANS April 5, 2025 196 views

Three Filipino nationals have been arrested in China on suspected espionage charges, sparking diplomatic tension between the two countries. The Philippines National Security Council strongly denies the allegations, stating the individuals are ordinary citizens with no criminal backgrounds. Chinese authorities claim to have uncovered a potential spy case, releasing an apparently scripted confession video. The incident further strains the already complicated relationship between the Philippines and China, particularly in the context of ongoing South China Sea disputes.

"We urge the Chinese government to respect their rights" - Jonathan Malaya, NSC Assistant Director General
Manila, April 5: The Philippines on Saturday raised alarm over the arrest of three Filipino nationals in China who have been allegedly detained for suspected espionage.

Key Points

1

Philippines claims arrests are retaliation for previous Chinese agent detentions

2

Arrested Filipinos were Hainan scholarship recipients

3

NSC asserts no evidence of actual espionage

4

Tension rises in Philippines-China diplomatic relations

The National Security Council (NSC) of the country stated that their detention can be seen as a "retaliation" for the series of legitimate arrests of Chinese agents and accomplices in the Philippines in recent months.

The agency further added that the arrested individuals are ordinary Filipino citizens with no military training.

"They are law-abiding citizens with no criminal records and were vetted and screened by the Chinese government prior to their arrival there," NSC Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya said in a statement.

He also mentioned an edited video released by Chinese media showing alleged "confessions" by the arrested Filipinos.

"There was also mention of a Philippine Intelligence Agency or Philippine Spy Intelligence Services, which is a non-existing government agency. The confessions appear to be scripted, strongly suggesting that they were not made freely," Malaya added.

He stated that the three arrested Philippine nationals are former recipients of the Hainan Government Scholarship Programme established under the sisterhood agreement between the Chinese province of Hainan and Philippines province of Palawan.

Meanwhile, Malaya assured the public that the Philippine government would prioritise their safety and well-being and ensure that they receive appropriate legal support.

"We urge the Chinese government to respect their rights and afford them every opportunity to clear their names in the same way that the rights of Chinese nationals are respected here in the Philippines," Malaya said.

China's state security authorities on Thursday said that it had recently discovered a case of suspected espionage, prompting the arrest of three Philippine nationals on spying charges.

China's judicial and relevant authorities will strictly, and in accordance with the law, handle a case of suspected espionage activities conducted by Philippine nationals in China, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun, Xinhua News Agency reported.

The relations between the Philippines and China have nosedived due to the South China Sea standoff and the growing assertiveness of the Chinese in the Indo-Pacific region.

Reader Comments

M
Maria R.
This is so concerning! These are just ordinary citizens with scholarships. China needs to provide proper evidence if they're making such serious accusations. Our government should stand firm on this. 🇵🇭
J
Juan C.
The timing is suspicious - right after we arrested Chinese agents here. Hope our government can negotiate their safe return soon. Stay strong to those detained!
L
Luis T.
While I support our citizens, I think our government should be more careful with scholarship programs tied to China. There's always political strings attached these days.
A
Andrea S.
Scripted confessions? That's straight out of a dystopian novel! 😨 China needs to stop using innocent people as political pawns. My prayers are with these kababayans.
C
Carlos M.
Both sides need to de-escalate. The South China Sea issue shouldn't affect ordinary citizens. Diplomacy should prevail over political posturing.
S
Sophia L.
I hope the media keeps covering this story. The world needs to see what's happening. #FreeTheFilipino3

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Tags:
China Philippines Espionage Diplomatic Tensions South China Sea Jonathan Malaya
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