China has accused them of working for the Philippine intelligence agency to gather classified information on China's military, state security officials told China Daily.

David Servanez, a long-term resident in China, was detained after he was found repeatedly loitering near military facilities, raising suspicions, according to the authorities, the news portal reported.

Chinese investigators later determined that he was acting under the remote direction of Richie Herrera, an operative for the Philippine intelligence service.

Two other Filipinos, Albert Endencia and Nathalie Plizardo, were also allegedly working under Herrera's instructions to collect sensitive information, officials told the news portal.

They were arrested after evidence was collected against them.

Officials told China Daily that Herrera recruited the three Filipino nationals in China to expand the intelligence network.

Chinese media reports said the three people have confessed their crimes.