China’s Ministry of Education issued a safety advisory on Friday for Chinese nationals studying in the Philippines, following reports of criminal incidents targeting them.
While the advisory did not provide specific details about the incidents, it urged students to enhance their safety awareness and remain vigilant while studying in the country.
Although no official enrollment figures were provided, reports from the South China Morning Post suggest that the number of Chinese students studying in the Philippines has declined in recent years to only a few hundred.
The advisory comes amid heightened tensions between China and the Philippines over longstanding maritime disputes in the South China Sea. China asserts extensive territorial claims in the area, overlapping with the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.
In recent months, confrontations in contested waters have increased, with Chinese coast guard vessels reportedly using water cannons and other non-lethal measures to block or deter Philippine fishing and supply vessels.
The political strain deepened when China rejected a 2016 ruling by a United Nations-backed tribunal in The Hague, which invalidated the bulk of its claims in the South China Sea. China has also voiced disapproval over the Philippines’ strengthening military and diplomatic ties with the United States.
China has previously used travel and education advisories as a form of diplomatic signaling. In April, a similar advisory was issued for Chinese students studying in the United States, citing safety concerns.