China denies having ‘sleeper cells’ in Philippines

MANILA, Philippines — The Chinese embassy in the Philippines has denied former interior secretary Rafael Alunan III’s allegation that there are Chinese “sleeper cells” in the Philippines.

In a statement posted on the embassy website on Nov. 3, the spokesperson for the embassy said it is coordinating with Philippine law enforcers after the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)’s arrest of two Chinese nationals in Pasig City for illegal possession of high-powered firearms on Oct. 13.

But the embassy took exception to Alunan’s allegation that the arrest means that China has prepositioned its clandestine forces in the Philippines amid the tense situation in the South China Sea, where China has deployed its coast guard and maritime militia to harrass Philippine vessels in Philippine waters.

“We have also noted that the NBI officer working on this case pointed out that there’s no truth that this is part of the plan of the Chinese to create a
 destabilization plot in the country. Nevertheless, some individuals with ulterior motives took advantage of an isolated case and blew things out of proportion by making groundless accusations against China and the Chinese people,” the embassy said.

“Certain Filipino officials went as far as disseminating such highly irresponsible remarks, dramatizing and hyping up maritime differences, vilifying the performance of normal duties and exchanges of Chinese institutions and personnel and even inciting racial hatred and sowing Sinophobic sentiments,” it added.

“We strongly oppose and condemn such baseless allegations and malicious spreading of disinformation,” it said.

The embassy said China has “always adhered to the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries” and “has always been dedicated to properly handling differences through dialogue and consultation, so as to preserve stability in the South China Sea.”

This amid the continued dangerous maneuvers by Chinese vessels blocking Philippine resupply missions to Ayungin Shoal, where the Philippines grounded a wartime ship to stake its claim amid Chinese incursions in the area.

The embassy said the “irresponsible words and deeds of the relevant Filipino individuals” about the alleged Chinese sleeper cells “run counter to the consensus of our two heads of state that maritime differences should be put in a proper place and well managed through dialogue and consultation, thus creating disruption to the diplomatic efforts.”

“It is hoped that the Philippine side will work in the same direction with China and follow through on the consensus between the two heads of state so as to jointly safeguard our bilateral relations and maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea,” the embassy said.

In a Facebook post, Alunan said the arrest of the Chinese nationals showed China’s “malevolent intentions” to set up sleeper cells in the Philippines.

Sleeper cells are groups of agents that remain dormant until they are ordered to act.

“The question racing through my mind is: how many more communities are harboring sleeper cells within striking distance from our centers of gravity around the country?” Alunan said.