‘Preposterous’: Philippine defence secretary hits out at Chinese diplomat’s claim that Filipino workers in China are spies

Delfin Lorenzana has called for online casinos operating near military camps to be relocated over fears Chinese workers in such firms could be tapped to gather intelligence for Beijing

He rejected a Chinese envoy’s counterclaim that Filipino workers in China could be accused of the same

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Philippines defence secretary Delfin Lorenzana. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 7:00am, 19 Aug 2019Updated: 3:36pm, 12 Dec 2019

The Philippines’ defence secretary has rubbished counterclaims by Beijing’s envoy that Filipino workers in China could also be accused of espionage, days after he expressed security concerns over Chinese workers in the country.

Delfin Lorenzana on Sunday called for online casinos operating near military camps to be relocated over fears Chinese nationals working in such companies could be tapped to gather intelligence for Beijing.

According to government estimates, a majority of the 138,000 workers employed by online casinos – known in the country as Philippine offshore gaming operations (POGOs) – are Chinese and the businesses cater mainly to customers from China.

“Knowing that Chinese companies are mandated by the Chinese government to assist in intel collection for their government, it is not far-fetched that individuals, likewise, could be compelled to do so,” Lorenzana said in a statement on Sunday.

A presidential spokesman said Beijing’s ambassador to Manila, Zhao Jianhua, had sent him a message saying that if Chinese workers in the Philippines were accused of being spies, the same could be said of Filipino workers in China.

Lorenzana rejected the statement, saying it was an absurd comparison.