BEIJING-- China's state-run CCTV reported on Thursday that national security authorities have detained three Filipinos on suspicion of espionage. They reportedly took photos of military facilities.

　According to the report, the three were in China gathering military-related intelligence under the instructions of a Philippine intelligence agency. The time and place of detention are unknown, but CCTV has aired footage of the interrogation of the three, as well as footage of them confessing to the camera the details of the crimes and saying they "regret" them.　

　China and the Philippines are in conflict over sovereignty over the South China Sea. The Xi Jinping administration has strongly opposed US Secretary of Defense Hegseth's visit to the Philippines last month and his announcement of increased cooperation between the US and Philippine militaries, as well as the sale of F-16 fighter jets by the US government to the Philippines. JIJI