Metro Manila, Philippines – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is verifying China’s arrest of more than 100 Filipinos and coordinating with the Philippine Embassy in Beijing to determine the exact number and status of those detained, even as Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. accused Beijing of “extortion and blackmail.”
The DFA said it is verifying the circumstances surrounding the arrests, ensuring due process and providing consular assistance to the affected Filipinos.
“The Department is in close coordination with our Embassy in Beijing and our Consulates-General to verify the circumstances of the arrests, ascertain the exact number and status of those apprehended, ensure that due process is observed, and extend consular assistance as needed,” the DFA said.
It said the Philippines respects China’s sovereign right to enforce its immigration laws, just as other countries have the right to enforce their laws against foreign nationals within their jurisdictions.
The DFA also urged Chinese authorities to protect the welfare of the arrested Filipinos and promptly notify Philippine diplomatic posts of their arrest and detention.
The department cited China’s obligations under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations and the 2013 Philippines-China Consular Agreement.
China’s Foreign Ministry said earlier that immigration authorities had taken action against more than 100 Philippine citizens for alleged illegal employment and overstaying, saying the measures were carried out in accordance with Chinese laws and regulations.
The Chinese government has not publicly linked the immigration operation to Teodoro or described it as retaliation against the Philippine defense chief.
Teodoro, however, strongly rejected any comparison between China’s action against Filipinos and Philippine law enforcement operations involving Chinese nationals.
He said the arrests of Chinese nationals referred to in a recent report were carried out on the basis of search warrants issued by Philippine courts and involved individuals allegedly operating illegal enterprises.
“The action against 100 Filipinos is plain and simple extortion and blackmail,” Teodoro said.
“We strongly condemn both the attempt by China to interfere in our law enforcement processes and the blatant blackmail against Filipinos.”
Teodoro also accused Chinese authorities of focusing on the passports and work visas of the Chinese nationals arrested in the Philippines while refusing to address the alleged illegal activities that led to the arrests.
“Filipinos in China have neither the intent nor the capacity to commit violations of Chinese law, much less in the scale perpetuated by Chinese nationals here,” he said.
Teodoro further accused the Chinese government of covering up for the Chinese nationals involved in the Philippine cases.
“The fact that the Chinese government is actively covering up for these individuals is the best evidence of their complicity in the nefarious acts of these people,” he said.
Reliable sources told NewsWatch Plus that China could consider further measures against Filipinos in Hong Kong and Macao, as well as possible economic and trade actions against the Philippines, if tensions with Manila escalate.
China has not officially announced any such measures against Filipino workers in Hong Kong or Macao.
The DFA statement did not confirm any retaliatory motive behind the arrests and said it was still verifying the circumstances of the cases.
