Beijing seeks thorough probe on anti-China plot

MANILA, Philippines - China yesterday expressed concern over last Monday’s foiled bombing attempt by a self-proclaimed anti-Chinese group as it asked the Philippine government to ensure the security of its diplomatic mission and staff and Chinese nationals in the country.

Lingxiao Li, spokesperson of the Chinese embassy in Manila, cited the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations in which the host country is mandated to take all appropriate steps to protect diplomatic missions and prevent any attack on diplomatic staff.

“We ask the Philippine government to carry out thorough investigations into this case. We hope and believe the Philippines side will take effective measures to ensure the security of the Chinese embassy and staff, as well as all Chinese nationals residing in the Philippines,” Li said in a text message.

Authorities arrested three people who claimed to be “defenders of the Filipino people” who supposedly wanted to call on the Philippine government to take a tougher stand in its territorial dispute against China.

They were arrested over a foiled attempt to bomb the airport. The group was also planning to attack the Chinese embassy and Chinese-owned business establishments to publicize their anti-China grievances.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), for its part, said it will send a note verbale to the Chinese embassy to assure them that the planned anti-China attacks of arrested bomb plotters is not a government policy.

“We will explain to China in a note verbale and assure them that it is not official government policy to use violence in resolving the ongoing territorial dispute,” Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose said.

Jose emphasized the Philippines will convey in the diplomatic note that directing violence against Chinese nationals or Chinese interests in the country is not official policy.

Meanwhile, the embassy said the 38 Chinese workers with legal permits who were among those arrested in a raid at the D.M. Consunji Inc. (DMCI) coal-fired power plant in Calaca, Batangas for working illegally in the country were released on Saturday.

“The remaining 41 Chinese nationals are still under investigation by local immigration bureau in Batangas,” Li said.

A joint task force of the National Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Immigration (BI) and Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) raided the DMCI power plant on Thursday after receiving information about illegal workers.

Authorities said many of the Chinese workers, who were reportedly recruited in mainland China and Taiwan, only have tourist visas.

Immigration spokesperson Elaine Tan said the Chinese workers would be charged with violation of the Philippine Immigration Act and deported if they could not present their working permits.