The Philippine government has challenged China’s recent advisory warning its students about safety risks in the country, labeling the security alert as “inaccurate” and “mischaracterizing” the actual situation on the ground.
In a statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) responded to Beijing’s July 18 alert, which cited a “deteriorating public security situation” and an “increasing number of criminal incidents targeting Chinese citizens.” The DFA emphasized that the advisory issued by the Chinese Ministry of Education misrepresents the reality in the Philippines.
This marks the second time this year that China has expressed concerns over public safety in the Philippines. In April, the Chinese Embassy in Manila released a similar warning about an unstable security environment.
The DFA stated that Philippine law enforcement agencies are actively addressing crimes involving Chinese nationals, whether they are victims or perpetrators, including incidents between foreign nationals. “All instances of crimes, including those involving Chinese and other foreign nationals as well as those perpetrated by foreign nationals against their own, are being addressed by relevant law enforcement authorities,” the DFA noted.
The department also confirmed that it has raised concerns with Beijing through formal diplomatic channels. “The Department has conveyed its concerns regarding the inaccuracies in the advisory issued by the Chinese Ministry of Education through diplomatic channels. It is hoped that the Chinese side will undertake the necessary corrections,” it added.
Despite the ongoing issue, the DFA reaffirmed Manila’s openness to continued engagement with Beijing.Bookmark messageCopy message