Philippines Arrests Three for China Espionage in South China Sea

Philippine authorities have arrested three low-level defense personnel accused of spying for China by leaking sensitive military information, including details on resupply missions in the disputed South China Sea, the National Security Council announced this week.

The individuals, who worked for the Department of National Defense, Navy, and Coast Guard, were apprehended in a joint operation by government agencies, according to NSC spokesperson Cornelio Valencia. They allegedly provided Chinese handlers with lists of military personnel and operational data on rotation and resupply efforts in the South China Sea, where Philippine and Chinese vessels have clashed repeatedly in recent years. Valencia described the breach as limited in scope but serious, noting that it compromised communication channels now shut down to mitigate risks to personnel.

The suspects, all Filipino nationals whose identities were not disclosed for national security reasons, confessed to their involvement and are cooperating with investigators, the NSC said in a statement released Wednesday. "There was cooptation over a period of time," Valencia told reporters. "At the start, you are not aware. And then...