Beijing: On Friday, Beijing issued a warning to Chinese students about safety risks in the Philippines amid escalating tensions between the two countries. China's Education Ministry released a statement urging students to "carefully assess security risks" and "strengthen safety awareness" before deciding to travel to the Philippines.

According to Anadolu Agency, the Ministry highlighted concerns over recent instability in public security within the Philippines, noting frequent crimes targeting Chinese citizens. The advisory is a call for all students studying abroad to be vigilant about security risks and to enhance their safety awareness when considering the Philippines as a study destination.

At a news conference in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian reiterated the importance of the alert, describing it as a "responsible and legitimate measure" by the Chinese government to safeguard the safety, rights, and interests of Chinese students overseas. Lin further urged the Philippine government to "take concrete actions to protect the safety, dignity, and lawful rights and interests of Chinese students studying in the Philippines," based on the transcript from the news conference.

This advisory comes against the backdrop of heightened tensions between Manila and Beijing, particularly concerning disputes in the South China Sea.