The Chinese government has issued a warning to its youth planning to study in the Philippines, advising them to “exercise caution” amid escalating tensions between China and the Philippines over the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
In an advisory from the Chinese Ministry of Education, students were urged to carefully reconsider plans to pursue education in the Philippines, alleging that Chinese citizens have become targets of the Philippine government and are being linked to local crimes.
“We once again remind Chinese students studying in the Philippines to make a careful assessment of the safety risks. At the same time, we urge the Philippines to take concrete actions to protect the safety, dignity and lawful rights and interests of Chinese students studying in the Philippines,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jiang during a press briefing.
The Philippine government, however, rejected the claims.
Malacañang Press Officer Atty. Claire Castro responded during a Palace press briefing, clarifying that the crime rate in the Philippines has been on a decline and that Chinese students currently studying in the country have nothing to fear.
“Ang kanilang propaganda, or rather advisory sa kanilang mga kababayan ay karapatan naman po nila…, pero as far as the government is concerned, ang crime rate naman po sa ating bansa ay gumaganda at bumababa, at ‘yan po ay dahil sa direktiba ng ating Pangulo,” Castro said.
The statement comes amid strained diplomatic relations between the two nations due to conflicting claims in the WPS.