The National Security Council (NSC) has raised concerns following the arrest of three Filipino nationals in China for alleged espionage, stating that those arrested are ordinary citizens without military training.
The Chinese authorities detained the three individuals in Beijing, accusing them of engaging in espionage.
The NSC emphasized that the arrested Filipinos are law-abiding citizens with no criminal records.
Chinese state-run media reported that the Filipinos were suspected of handing over sensitive information about China to a contact in the Philippines.
The NSC assured that the individuals were vetted and screened by the Chinese government before their arrival in China.
The identities of the three Filipinos have not been disclosed by either Chinese or Philippine officials.
Chinese authorities gathered evidence reportedly linking the individuals to espionage activities, as per their state-run media.
The Philippine government continues to monitor the situation closely for any further developments.