Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun stated at a regular press conference that China resolutely combats gambling and related crimes, and urges the Philippines to thoroughly resolve the social issues caused by the offshore gaming industry (POGO) as soon as possible. He also called on the Philippine side to enforce the law fairly and justly, and to effectively protect the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens in the Philippines.
At the press conference, a media question mentioned that the Philippine police recently conducted a raid on an offshore gaming operator (POGO), arresting over 450 people, including Chinese citizens. In response, Guo Jiakun reiterated that the Chinese government is firmly opposed to gambling activities and severely cracks down on crimes involving gambling. He emphasized that Chinese citizens abroad are consistently required to abide by the laws of the host country and must not engage in any illegal or criminal activities.
"We urge the Philippine side to resolve the persistent issues related to the offshore gaming industry as soon as possible," Guo Jiakun said. The Philippine POGO industry has long been plagued by illegal detention, human trafficking, money laundering, and other problems, severely affecting social security and harming the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens.
Guo Jiakun further stated that China is willing to strengthen law enforcement cooperation with the Philippines to jointly combat transnational criminal activities, while also calling on the Philippine government to enforce the law fairly and justly, ensuring that the legal rights of Chinese citizens in the Philippines are not violated.
In recent years, the Philippine offshore gaming industry has repeatedly been exposed for illegal activities, many of which involve Chinese citizens. The Chinese government has repeatedly expressed concerns and has engaged in multiple rounds of consultations with the Philippine side to promote stronger regulation and rectification efforts.
China once again urges the Philippines to take concrete actions to thoroughly rectify the chaos in the offshore gaming industry, prevent the continuous fermentation of related criminal issues, and safeguard the common interests of the people of both China and the Philippines.
