The Philippines has rejected the alleged confessions of three Filipino citizens arrested by China for espionage, labelling them as potentially “scripted” and calling on Beijing to uphold their rights.
This response from Manila follows China’s announcement that it had dismantled a Philippine intelligence network and detained three Filipinos accused of spying.
The espionage dispute escalates existing tensions between the two nations over territorial claims in the South China Sea and the Philippines’ growing security alliance with the United States.
Simultaneously, the Philippines has recently arrested several Chinese citizens suspected of spying on its military installations and vessels.
Chinese state broadcaster CCTV aired a report featuring what appeared to be a recorded confession from a Filipino man, identified as a suspected spy, who had allegedly been spying near Chinese military facilities.
However, the Philippines’ National Security Council (NSC) contends that these confessions appear to be “scripted,” raising concerns about their authenticity and voluntary nature.
The NSC also suggested that the arrests could be retaliatory measures following the Philippines’ arrests of Chinese agents.
The NSC clarified that the three Filipinos are former recipients of Chinese government scholarships and are not involved in espionage.
“They are ordinary Filipino citizens with no military training who merely went to China at the invitation of the Chinese government to study,” the NSC stated. They also emphasised that these individuals had no criminal records and had been vetted by the Chinese government.
Manila urged Beijing to ensure the Filipinos’ rights are respected and to provide them with the opportunity to defend themselves, mirroring the treatment afforded to Chinese nationals in the Philippines. The NSC also denied the existence of the spy agency mentioned by Chinese media.
The Philippine Foreign Affairs Department has pledged to provide legal assistance to the detained citizens.
Last week, the Chinese embassy in Manila issued a travel advisory to its citizens, warning of alleged “harassment” from Philippine law enforcement.
