MANILA, Philippines — Even without access to the power grid, China has been spying on the Philippines through its satellites in space, President Duterte said.

“I know now, that right now they are listening to us, through satellites. Without using the grid, they spy,” Mr. Duterte said on Monday over GMA’s “Unang Hirit.”

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It won’t make sense

The President made the admission when asked about his thoughts on the possibility that China might shut down the country’s power grid since a Chinese firm has a 40-percent stake in the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines

But the Chief Executive has played down this possibility, saying it won’t make sense for China to shut down the power grid since both nations were engaged in business.

On Monday, the President reiterated that China only wanted to help the country by engaging in business.

“The grid, China just wants to help us, because we can’t do it on our own. You want a better one, better service, you want more energy distributed, China offered to help. And we took it,” he said.

He went on: “What’s the purpose of business? To spy? It’s to make money for China. And for us.”–Julie M. Aurelio

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