Manila: China on Friday warned its nationals to avoid visiting the Philippines, citing a foiled bomb plot against the Chinese embassy in Manila and the danger of criminal gangs.
“Given the worsened security situation in the Philippines, the consular department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs urges Chinese citizens not to travel to the Philippines for the time being,” a ministry statement said.
The warning came after three men were arrested last week over an alleged plot to bomb the Chinese embassy, the international airport and the business premises of ethnic Chinese tycoons.
In Beijing, foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying today urged the Philippine government to do more to protect Chinese citizens.
Aside from the alleged bomb plot, Hua cited “criminal gangs” who had targeted Chinese citizens and businesses. Philippine Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said last week that the bomb plot may be linked to a fringe politician who had been involved in a string of anti-Chinese protests.
However the Philippine military dismissed the alleged bomb plot, calling the fringe politician a crank who posed no real danger and saying his “bombs” were merely firecrackers.
Police arrested him but then quickly released him. Diplomatic relations between China and the Philippines have been extremely tense in recent years due to a dispute over competing territorial claims in the South China Sea.
In response to the travel warning, the Philippine foreign ministry released a statement saying it had been liaising with Chinese diplomats to ease their concerns.
Many foreign governments warn their nationals to avoid large parts of the southern Philippines due to the threats of kidnapping, however there are no blanket advisories similar to China’s to avoid the entire country. (PTI)
