Philippines, once hailed as a "springboard" for Chinese students to study abroad, is now being re-evaluated due to deteriorating security conditions. In July 2025, the Chinese Ministry of Education issued a study abroad safety alert through the Global Times, reminding students intending to study in the Philippines to assess risks and enhance their safety awareness. Almost simultaneously, the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines also issued a warning, pointing out that harassment and robbery incidents targeting Chinese citizens are frequent, and local security has significantly worsened.
This is a rare official double warning, reflecting that studying in the Philippines is no longer just an educational choice, but a real challenge accompanied by complex political and security factors.
Over the past decade, the Philippines has attracted a large number of Chinese students with English instruction, low tuition fees, and geographical convenience, especially as a popular "springboard" route to Europe and America. However, this seemingly "cost-effective" study path is now losing its appeal due to worsening security situations and tightening visa policies.
Several cases show that Chinese students in cities like Manila and Cebu frequently face sudden checks and are forced to show their documents; some are detained in "black rooms" due to incomplete visas; the presence of US troops in northern Philippines has triggered local politicians' backlash, making Chinese students potential targets. Robberies, kidnappings, and extortions are increasingly common, turning many students into "easy targets."
The tension in geopolitics has exacerbated these risks. With the South China Sea situation heating up and US-Philippines military cooperation deepening, China-Philippines relations have entered a sensitive period. In this context, Chinese students have become the most vulnerable "group caught in the middle"—without power protection or identity safety, they could be the first to bear the brunt once emotions flare up.
It is noteworthy that the Ministry of Education rarely issues safety alerts for a specific country alone; this simultaneous announcement with the embassy sends an unusual signal. This is not just a reminder from the educational sector but a comprehensive warning from the diplomatic and security fields, directly pointing out that the security risk in the Philippines has reached a critical red line.
Although tuition fees in the Philippines are still lower than in Europe and America, the reality is: behind the low cost lies a high risk. Safety anxieties, political sensitivities, and unstable visa policies are comprehensively weakening its attractiveness.
If you still insist on studying in the Philippines, be prepared to do the following: register with the embassy, prepare all legal identity documents; avoid high-risk areas or political activities; maintain real-time contact with family and peers.
This round of official warnings is not a suggestion, but an alarm bell. Against the backdrop of simultaneous warnings in safety, diplomacy, and education, studying in the Philippines has shifted from an "affordable choice" to a high-risk gamble— to go, or not to go? Perhaps, it's time to reassess.
