Philippines Accuses China of Blackmail After 100 Filipinos Arrested

The Government of China arrested more than 100 Filipino nationals for allegedly working or living illegally in the country. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China stated the operations were conducted in accordance with the law and that immigration staff acted in a civil manner to protect the rights of the foreign nationals.

Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. condemned the arrests as plain and simple extortion and blackmail. Teodoro argued the crackdown is a retaliatory move and an attempt by Beijing to interfere in Philippine law enforcement. He specifically linked the arrests to Philippine operations against Chinese nationals, including a May 2026 raid on a steel factory in Pampanga and arrests in Mindanao involving principals of illegal enterprises.

The Department of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines is coordinating with its embassy in Beijing to verify the status of the detainees and ensure due process. The department reminded China of a 2013 agreement that requires the notification of consular posts within four days of an arrest. The incident further strains diplomatic relations between the two nations, which are already tense due to territorial disputes in the South China Sea.