Philippines Warns of Escalating Chinese Espionage and Disinformation Campaign
Table of Contents
Manila/Tokyo - A top Philippine security official has issued a stark warning about teh increasing pace of Chinese espionage, disinformation, and psychological warfare activities within the country, triggering calls for a modernization of its anti-espionage laws.
Rising Concerns Over “Malign Influence”
Chinese operations in the Philippines have been ongoing for some time, but the extent of these activities is onyl now becoming fully apparent, according to Cornelio Valencia, Assistant Director-General of the Philippine National Security Council (NSC).Valencia revealed these concerns in an interview with The Japan Times.
The surge in what valencia termed ”malign influence activities” is occurring at a rate comparable to ChinaS increased naval presence and movements in the West Philippine Sea, highlighting the multi-faceted nature of the security challenges facing the Philippines.
Calls for Legal Updates
The escalating situation has prompted both lawmakers and security agencies to advocate for an update to the Philippines’ existing anti-espionage laws, which are reportedly decades old and possibly inadequate to address the evolving threat landscape. The need for updated legislation is seen as crucial to effectively counter these activities and protect national security.
