MINISTER Counselor Zhou Zhiyong, deputy chief of mission of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Philippines, held a press conference in Makati City on Wednesday, May 20, 2026.
The Chinese Embassy in Manila on Wednesday said the 69 detained Chinese workers have valid work permits as it complained of "discriminatory law enforcement practice."
The Chinese were arrested on suspicion of being illegal workers when authorities raided a steel factory in Misamis Oriental last week.
Deputy Chief of Mission Zhou Zhiyong said the Chinese have valid visas or special work permits. "These are not illegal workers," he added.
"Our paramount concern is the safety and welfare of our citizens here in the Philippines," Zhou said in a briefing.
He urged the concerned "law enforcement or Filipino authorities to clarify the legal ground of their continued detention" at the National Bureau of Investigation.
He noted that there were about 400 workers in the steel firm, but it was only the Chinese workers who were arrested and flown to Manila in a "military plane."
"What's the logic? This to us raises the suspicion of discriminatory law enforcement practice," Zhou said.
He said the embassy did not file any diplomatic protest but already wrote to relevant government agencies to address their concerns with regard to the safety of their nationals.
Zhou said the Chinese complained of being detained in a small detention cell.
