Philippine government detains at least 79 Chinese citizens

The Philippine government reportedly detained at least 79 Chinese citizens in a local factory. The Chinese Embassy in the Philippines said that China has lodged representations with the Philippines, urging the Philippines to handle the case fairly and in accordance with the law.

The spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines responded to the detention of several Chinese citizens in the form of a reporter's question on the official website on Friday (July 19, 2024). The spokesperson said that the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines attaches great importance to the safety and legal rights of Chinese citizens in the Philippines. After learning about the relevant situation, it immediately activated the emergency mechanism, verified the specific situation from multiple sources, and sent consular officials to visit the detained Chinese company personnel on site and actively provided consular assistance.

According to The Philippine Star, the Philippine National Bureau of Investigation detained at least 79 Chinese citizens at a factory in Bulacan Province on Thursday (July 18, 2024). Santiago, director of the Philippine National Bureau of Investigation, said that 36 of them had incomplete work documents and only 23 held tourist visas.