The Philippine government said on Wednesday it had apprehended some of its citizens on suspicion of spying for China in a “serious national security matter” that underscores the need for stricter laws against espionage and foreign interference.
Authorities did not provide details about the case, including how many people had been apprehended or whether charges had been filed.
“The operations of these individuals acting on the behest of Chinese intelligence have been addressed and terminated,” the National Security Council said in a statement.
“Necessary actions have been taken against the individuals concerned, all Filipino nationals, who have all confessed their complicity in espionage activities and are cooperating with authorities,” the statement added.
Relations between the Philippines and China have grown increasingly fraught amid repeated confrontations in the South China Sea, with both sides also engaging in an intensifying war of words that has played out on social media.
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China’s foreign ministry and its embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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