The Philippine National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) recently arrested a Chinese man holding a Macau passport for allegedly operating a surveillance device near the Commission on Elections (Comelec) office. The incident, less than two weeks before the midterm elections, has drawn widespread attention and is seen as potentially exacerbating tensions between China and the Philippines.
The man involved in the case had appeared around the Supreme Court and the US Embassy
According to NBI spokesman Ferdinand Lavin on Wednesday (April 30), the arrested man is suspected of having visited the Comelec building three times and used a device known as an "IMSI catcher." This device can simulate a cell phone tower and intercept communications within a range of 1 to 3 kilometers. Authorities also stated that the man had also been seen at sensitive locations including the Supreme Court of the Philippines, the Department of Justice, and the U.S. Embassy in Manila, posing a potential national security risk.
When asked about the incident on Wednesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun stated that China "will not and has no intention of interfering in the internal affairs of the Philippines," but added that certain Filipino politicians "should not exploit the opportunity to hype issues related to China, fabricate stories, and pursue personal gain." The Chinese Foreign Ministry did not directly address whether the man had any connection to China.
In early April this year, China announced the detention of three Filipinos suspected of espionage activities, which was seen as a response to the Philippines' earlier arrest of five Chinese citizens. The interaction was interpreted by the outside world as a manifestation of the recent tensions between the two countries.
Signing of New Zealand defense agreement aims to strengthen strategic cooperation
The incident occurred as the Philippines and New Zealand signed a bilateral defense cooperation agreement authorizing the deployment and training of their militaries within each other's territory. New Zealand Defense Minister Judith Collins stated that the agreement reflects shared concerns about challenges to the "rules-based international order." She noted that both sides agree that the current regional strategic environment is deteriorating.
Philippine Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, while not naming China, criticized some countries for attempting to reshape the international legal order. He also mentioned China's "nine-dash line" sovereignty claims in the South China Sea, emphasizing that Manila will continue to respond to challenges through diplomatic and military cooperation.
In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled that China's "Nine-Dash Line" claim was legally invalid, upholding the Philippines' sovereignty claims over parts of the South China Sea. However, China has not accepted the ruling and continues to patrol, reclaim islands, and deploy military facilities in the relevant waters.
In addition to the agreement with New Zealand, the Philippines is also actively expanding security cooperation with other countries. Manila reached a consensus with Tokyo this week to begin defense agreement negotiations and strengthen intelligence sharing to address potential conflicts in the East China Sea and South China Sea.
Other reports indicate that the Philippine government is also in contact with Canada and France to explore the possibility of signing a defense cooperation agreement. Analysts believe that Manila is working to build a broader international security network to balance strategic pressure from China.
