China on 'sleeper cells' in PH: 'malicious, groundless'

Chinese Embassy in Manila

MANILA, Philippines: China, through its embassy in Manila, rejected the allegation that it has placed so-called “sleeper cells” in the Philippines amid reports that some Chinese had retirees’ visas but were of “soldier’s age.”

The Chinese Embassy on Wednesday opposed the “malicious and groundless” accusation with the purpose of “inciting Sinophobic sentiments in the Philippines.”

“Instead, we see habitual meddling in other nations’ internal affairs, fostering domestic division and confrontation, and instigating ‘color revolutions’ by some country,” the embassy said without identifying the country.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Department of Information and Communications Technology were reportedly investigating some Chinese companies which have been allegedly recruiting Filipino soldiers as “analysts online.”

Sen. Maria Lourdes Nancy Binay on April 7 asked the Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA) to tighten the vetting process on foreigners applying for special resident retiree visa (SRRV).

The senator made the appeal following the arrest of four members of an alleged Chinese syndicate who are SRRV holders.

“What’s largely alarming is the PRA policy of allowing Chinese SRRV applicants who are 35 years old, which can be categorized as ‘soldier’s age,'” Binay said.

Sen. Francis Tolentino echoed Binay’s apprehension. He said it would “lead to the entry of individuals who might be harming national security in the future.”

PRA records show that there are about 78,000 foreign retirees in the Philippines of whom 30,000 are Chinese.

The embassy said the China-Philippines friendship has always been the “mainstream of our bilateral relations and the aspiration of the two peoples.”

“However, there seems to be an ‘invisible hand’ here disseminating disinformation about China, hyping up maritime disputes between the two countries, amplifying our maritime differences, creating tension, and even fear mongering about war,” it said.

“It aims at nothing but poisoning the atmosphere of China-Philippines relations and disrupting their development,” the embassy said.

“We believe that the Filipino people have discerning eyes and can see through these shenanigans, and shall not be deceived by false narratives,” it added.