BEIJING — China’s Ministry of Education issued an overseas study alert on Friday, July 18, 2025, urging students to assess the security risks of studying in the Philippines and to heighten their awareness of necessary precautions.
The Ministry cited the Philippines’ deteriorating public security situation and the increasing number of criminal incidents targeting Chinese citizens as reasons for the advisory.
This is the second such alert issued in 2025.
Last April, the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines issued a statement saying the public security situation in the Philippines has been unstable.
Incidents involving local law enforcement harassing and inspecting Chinese nationals and enterprises have occurred frequently. Political gatherings, protests and demonstrations have also become more common across the country, resulting in heightened security risks for Chinese nationals and institutions in the Philippines.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry and the Chinese Embassy and Consulates in the Philippines urge Chinese nationals to closely monitor local security developments, strengthen personal safety precautions and emergency preparedness, minimize unnecessary outings and avoid political gatherings and crowded areas.
Chinese nationals are also advised to comply with local laws and regulations and remain alert to potential safety traps or scams, according to the statement.
In earlier reports, Philippine authorities maintained that there was no systemic harassment targeting Chinese nationals.
The Philippine National Police and Malacañang have asserted that law enforcement actions, such as the crackdown on illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators, many of which involve Chinese nationals, are focused on upholding the law and not on singling out any particular nationality.
Malacañang said that all foreign nationals are protected and only those violating Philippine laws are prosecuted. (Xinhua)