MANILA, Philippines — China’s Ministry of Education has warned Chinese students studying in Manila of alleged safety concerns, claiming unstable security situation in the country.
“Recently, public security in the Philippines has been unstable, with frequent crimes targeting Chinese citizens,” the advisory shared by the Chinese embassy in Manila read as translated from Chinese.
“The Ministry of Education reminds all students studying abroad to conduct a thorough safety risk assessment and strengthen their awareness of personal protection when considering studying in the Philippines during this period,” the travel advisory added.
China’s Global Times, in a report, said the travel advisory is the Chinese Ministry of Education’s second study abroad alert for 2025.
The report noted that in April this year, the Chinese embassy in Manila also warned that the public security situation in the Philippines has been unstable.
Global Times said “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 report added.
The Chinese embassy has yet to provide more details or specific data on incidents involving Chinese students or nationals experiencing security or safety issues in the Philippines.
The Department of Foreign Affairs has yet to comment on the travel advisory.
Palace responds
Malacañang shrugged off yesterday China’s security warning to Chinese students in the Philippines, noting that the country is safer now under the current administration.
“It’s their right to do propaganda or rather advisory to their citizens, it’s their obligation to protect their countrymen,” Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said at a press briefing.
“As far as the government is concerned, crime rates in the Philippines are going down,” she said. She also cited the country’s “good” ranking in the 2025 Global Peace Index.
“That’s why I can say that the safety and security in the Philippines are improving as far as we are concerned,” Castro said.
She also cited the decline or end of extrajudicial killings due to the war on drugs as well as crimes linked to Philippine offshore gaming operations, reportedly run by Chinese crime rings.
“We can say that crimes related to POGOs have ended or decreased and many Chinese nationals have been deported, those Chinese who were accused of engaging in criminal activities in the Philippines,” Castro said.
Asked if the government can give assurance to Chinese nationals who are apprehensive due to the advisory, Castro replied: “Not just Chinese, all people, Filipino, regardless of nationality, we will all protect them.” — Helen Flores