China denies recruiting ‘sleeper cell’ military members in the Philippines

Beijing’s reaction followed a directive by the Philippines to probe the reported online recruitment of Filipino military personnel as ‘part-time consultants’

Allegations intensified after a senator questioned the Philippine Retirement Authority on issuing special resident retiree visas to Chinese nationals of ‘soldier’s age’

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Filipino President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr (left) and Armed Forces chief General Romeo Brawner in the town of Pilar, Bataan province. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 7:42pm, 11 Apr 2024Updated: 7:50pm, 11 Apr 2024

The Chinese Embassy in Manila on Wednesday strongly denied Philippine military reports that Beijing has been recruiting Filipino military personnel as consultants and planting operatives in “sleeper cells” throughout the country.

Beijing’s reaction followed a directive by the Department of National Defence to probe the reported online recruitment of Filipino military personnel as “part-time consultants”.

The allegations, if true, could pose a “significant threat” to the Philippines’ national security, particularly in the South China Sea, analysts warned.

Military chief General Romeo Brawner said this week the Philippines had information of past and present Filipino military officers, including some generals, being approached to help China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea.

Philippines BRP Jose Rizal (right) and USS Gabrielle Giffords in a tactical exercise between the Philippines and the United States in the West Philippine Sea. Photo: AP

Military intelligence reports showed that China had recruited Filipinos with military backgrounds to spy on its behalf in the West Philippine Sea, Brawner said, using Manila’s name for the parts of the South China Sea that fall within its exclusive economic zone.

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