(MENAFN) Beijing issued a stern warning on Friday advising Chinese students to be vigilant about their personal safety when considering travel to the Philippines, as tensions between the two nations continue to escalate.

In a public statement reported by media, China’s Education Ministry called on students to “carefully assess security risks” and “strengthen safety awareness” before making the decision to study in the Philippines.

“Recently, public security in the Philippines has been unstable, with frequent crimes targeting Chinese citizens. The Ministry of Education reminds all students studying abroad to carefully assess security risks when choosing to study in the Philippines and to strengthen safety awareness,” the statement read.

Later in the day, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian echoed the alert during a press briefing in Beijing: "The alert is a responsible and legitimate measure taken by the Chinese government to protect the safety and rights and interests of Chinese students overseas."

Lin further pressed Philippine authorities to act, stating: "take concrete actions to protect the safety, dignity and lawful rights and interests of Chinese students studying in the Philippines," according to an official transcript of the media briefing.

The advisory was issued against the backdrop of rising friction between China and the Philippines, particularly over disputed waters in the South China Sea.

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