QUEZON CITY, Philippines – Malacañang allayed fears that a third telecommunications company player from China will compromise the national security of the country.
According to Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque, the administration is taking steps to strengthen the country’s cyber-security and to further strengthen the ties between the two countries.
“Well, as far as security considerations are concerned, we will look into that because there are really concerns overall on cybersecurity in general,” he said.
This was in reaction to a statement from detained Senator Leila De Lima claiming that the country’s “information and communications infrastructure” might be compromised if China becomes the third telecommunications player.
“What will assure us that in the future, our national security and whole intelligence and defense systems won’t be compromised, if not under the complete control of a foreign government with national interests diametrically opposed to our own?” De Lima’s statement read.
The administration targets March 2018 as the start of operations of the Chinese telecommunications company.