Manila, April 7 -- The Philippines has suggested that the detention of three Filipinos in China for alleged espionage might be a response to Manila's efforts to target supposed Chinese spies, based on a report from Radio Free Asia (RFA).

Chinese authorities apprehended the Filipinos, claiming they were working for the Philippine intelligence agency to collect classified military information, according to a report from China's state-run Xinhua News Agency last week, which cited state security officials. It was mentioned that the three individuals confessed to the charges, RFA reported.

The Philippine National Security Council (NSC) dismissed China's espionage claims, stating that the detainees are "ordinary citizens with no military trai...