A Chinese national died on September 1 while in immigration custody in the Philippines, pending deportation, the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines said.

The embassy expressed deep grief over the incident and said it had immediately filed a formal protest with Philippine authorities.

It noted that its officials had previously alerted the detention facility that the detainee had serious pre-existing health conditions and was at elevated risk. The embassy said it had explicitly instructed the facility to monitor his condition and provide needed medical care without delay.

The embassy is now demanding a prompt, open investigation by the Philippine side to establish the facts and submit a detailed report. Any dereliction of duty uncovered must result in accountability, it added.

"The right to life is a fundamental human right," the embassy stressed, adding that life and basic humanitarian protections apply to all individuals, regardless of their status.

China has called on the Philippines to act decisively to guarantee adequate medical attention and humane treatment for everyone in custody, and to ensure no such tragedy repeats.

(Source: Embassy of China in the Philippines)