April 2 ------ The Chinese Embassy in the Philippines has issued a travel advisory urging Chinese nationals in the country, as well as those planning to visit, to exercise heightened caution due to alleged “increasing security risks.”
The advisory cited incidents of harassment and inspections targeting Chinese citizens and businesses, as well as the growing number of political gatherings and protests across the country. Earlier, Philippine law enforcement arrested a group of Chinese nationals suspected of espionage near Subic Bay. This comes shortly after a previous incident in which two Chinese nationals and one Filipino were detained for allegedly conducting covert and unauthorized intelligence-gathering activities, raising concerns over national security. “Public security in the Philippines has been unstable, with frequent incidents of law enforcement authorities harassing and inspecting Chinese citizens and enterprises,” the embassy said in a statement translated to English.
The advisory also warned of the “significant increase” in political gatherings, protests, and demonstrations in various regions, which it said had led to “heightened security risks for Chinese citizens and institutions in the Philippines.” “It is advised to minimize unnecessary outings, stay away from political gatherings and crowded places, comply with local laws and regulations, and be vigilant against potential security threats and traps,” the statement read.
Chinese travelers planning to visit the Philippines were urged to carefully assess the risks before proceeding with their plans. “Those planning to travel to the Philippines should carefully assess the risks and make prudent travel decisions,” the embassy said.
In case of emergencies, Chinese nationals are encouraged to report incidents promptly and seek assistance from the Chinese Embassy and consulates in the country. The advisory provided emergency contact details, including the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ global consular protection hotline (+86-10-12308 / +86-10-65612308) and local consular protection numbers in Manila, Cebu, Laoag, and Davao.
Source: manilastandard.net
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