'China may fund Filipino rebels'

MANILA, Philippines — Former Interior Secretary Rafael Alunan III warned against China's feared retaliation through economic and environmental sanctions after Manila's memorial is submitted to the arbitral tribunal on March 30.

Alunan said that China can sabotage communication lines and even the electrical grid, but it can also support armed groups in the country.

"Something that wasn't discussed too much but still falls within the realm of the possible is that instead of walloping us in the West Philippine Sea and driving home their point, they could just fund our local rebels and make trouble," Alunan, a co-convenor of the West Philippine Sea Coalition, said in an interview with ANC on Tuesday.

Alunan said that China has threatened to impose economic sanctions on the Philippines in opposition to the arbitration case pending before the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea in the Hague, Netherlands.

He said the warning was made by the Chinese Foreign Ministry to Philippine envoys in Beijing.

Further analysis of intelligence data and Chinese capabilities, meanwhile, also reveals likely scenarios Alunan had called "irregular warfare."

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"They could expand the sanctions by stopping the flow of raw materials needed by our local manufacturers and exporters," Alunan said.

He also warned that the Asian giant may disrupt human and ecological security by "remotely" shutting down the electrical grid, 40 percent of which is controlled by a Chinese state-owned company.

"I was taken aback by that. And then there is also a possibility that they can introduce viruses to our communication lines that can either capture data or corrupt data," Alunan said.

In a message shared with Philstar.com, Alunan urged government officials, including those in posts not related to defense, to answer 10 questions on national security in anticipation of China's possible actions.