Philippine military uncovers alleged new Beijing spy tactics in South China Sea row

At least three Filipinos with ties to the country’s military have been arrested on suspicion of spying for Beijing, allegedly leaking information that sparked maritime confrontations in the disputed China-sea" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="8346" data-entity-type="location">South China Sea.The case, which came to light last year during an ongoing multi-agency counter-intelligence effort, marks a new strategy of recruiting Filipinos for espionage instead of planting individuals with fake local identities in the country, according to Philippine Navy Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad.China has rejected the allegations, calling them “malicious smears”.One suspect allegedly used a modified mobile phone with a messaging app concealed within the video game Tetris to communicate with handlers, while payoffs involved cash hidden in fake food deliveries.The three did not work together, even though two were overseen by the same person.“What we are seeing are individuals operating through a similar modus operandi, some of those involved appear to have acted independently while being approached through comparable recruitment channels,” Trinidad told This Week in Asia.