By Shirin Bhandari | 2025-05-06

China has resumed airing televised confessions of detained foreign nationals after a years-long pause.

An in-depth report by the human rights nongovernmental organization Safeguard Defenders details how Chinese police extract scripted confessions for TV broadcasts, often under duress.

This practice led foreign regulators in the United Kingdom, Australia and parts of Europe to revoke broadcast rights for China Global Television Network (CGTN) and China Central Television (CCTV). China halted such confessions after detaining Taiwanese businessman Morrison Li in 2019.

China now has revived the tactic with recent espionage accusations against three Filipinos. On April 3, Chinese authorities arrested David Servanez, Albert Endencia and Nathalie Plizardo, accusing them of espionage.

Chinese state media claimed that someone named "Richie Herrera" recruited the three Filipinos to gather military information for Philippine intelligence. Two Chinese state TV channels, CCTV-13 and CCTV-4, aired their confessions, in which the detainees admitted to spying.

Chinese officials have accused Philippine intelligence of targeting Chinese military sites and transmitting sensitive video footage since 2021.

According to Chinese state media, Herrera remotely trained and paid the three suspects monthly, offering bonuses based on the intelligence they submitted. Herrera's location remains undisclosed.

Black hoods, handcuffs

However, the supposed confessions "appear to be scripted, strongly suggesting that they were not made freely," the Philippine National Security Council (NSC) said on April 5.

The individuals were former scholars without military background under a program between Palawan province, the Philippines, and Hainan province, China, according to the NSC. They had passed security clearance from Chinese authorities before their arrival, it added.

The confession videos appeared on local news channels and online platforms in the Philippines.

The footage shows the detainees escorted by police. They were handcuffed and wore black hoods over their heads. Authorities forced them to sign documents in Chinese, even though they are not native speakers.

The five-minute broadcast features a news anchor stating the detainees "threatened China's national security," treating the accusations as fact.

Palawan's youth council called on the government to diplomatically safeguard the detained Filipinos, describing the former provincial scholars as being "behind foreign walls, accused of espionage and judged not in open courts but in the pages of state-run media."

The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs pledged legal aid and urged China to respect due process and detainees' rights.

Familiar pattern

Research by Safeguard Defenders, which analyzed more than 100 confession videos, described how Chinese authorities script and stage these confessions. They instruct the detainees on what to wear, what to say and how to behave.

In the broadcast, Servanez said in Mandarin: "While the Chinese government has provided me with a good living environment, I have done things detrimental to China's interests. I regret what I have done."

"If there are people who have experienced the same things as I do, I will persuade them to surrender to the relevant Chinese authority," Endencia said in the video in English.

The video ends with a warning to foreign nationals not to engage in espionage in China.

The sequence mirrors past cases, such as the detention of two Canadians in China from 2018 to 2021.

When closely analyzed, the confessions follow a familiar pattern: admission of guilt, gratitude toward China and a warning to others. There is no concrete evidence or detailed explanation of the alleged crime.

Safeguard Defenders described the broadcast as "another example of China's hostage diplomacy, where foreign citizens are used as pawns in Beijing's geopolitical spats."

Detainee confessions on the broadcast, featuring regret and positive portrayals of China, also appeared scripted according to the NSC, which pointed out the mention of a nonexistent "Philippine Spy Intelligence Service."

Tensions mount

The arrests "can be seen as retaliation for the series of legitimate arrests of Chinese agents and accomplices," the NSC said in an April 5 statement.

Philippine authorities have arrested at least a dozen Chinese nationals in the past three months on suspicion of espionage, accusing them of illegally obtaining sensitive information on military camps and critical infrastructure that could undermine Manila's national security and defense.

As investigations into the espionage allegations continue, observers remain focused on the implications for regional stability and China–Philippines relations.

Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Teresita "Tess" Daza confirmed the Philippine consulate in Guangzhou was providing necessary assistance, including legal, and prioritizing the rights of detained Filipinos.

Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian noted the consulate handles all engagement with Chinese authorities on the matter, including potential family visits.

Tensions between the two nations remain high amid maritime disputes in the South China Sea. The Philippines is reviewing its anti-espionage laws and voiced concern about national security.

Meanwhile, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has advanced security ties with the United States, including a proposed $5.6 billion deal involving fighter jets and missiles.