Philippine resupply mission data leaked to Chinese intelligence, security official says

This comes after the Philippine said it apprehended some of its citizens suspected of spying for China. Read more at straitstimes.com.

MANILA – A spokesman for the National Security Council (NSC) of the Philippines on March 5 said some information on the country’s resupply missions in the South China Sea was compromised and passed on to Chinese intelligence agents.

His statement came a day after the Philippine government said it apprehended some of its citizens on suspicion of spying for China in a “serious national security matter”.

NSC spokesman Cornelio Valencia called the breach “alarming” but limited in scope, adding that the channels used to transmit the information had been shut down.

“Rotation and resupply data fall under operational security because disclosing it can endanger personnel, and that has been compromised,” Mr Valencia said.

Philippine and Chinese vessels have frequent run-ins during Manila’s resupply missions to its occupied features in the South China Sea. And Chinese diplomats, Philippine lawmakers, and a Coast Guard spokesperson have recently engaged in heated public exchanges over the disputed waterway.

Mr Valencia said three Filipinos had been apprehended and “there could be more”. He declined to say whether charges would be filed.