Chinese Embassy slams ‘malicious’ claims vs surge of Chinese students in Cagayan

The Chinese Embassy in the Philippines on Thursday belied the 'malicious' accusations related to the alleged increase in the number of Chinese students in Cagayan province.

This after Cagayan Representative Joseph "Jojo" Lara sought a House inquiry into the matter, saying the presence of the Chinese students could put the country’s security at risk amid Beijing's aggression in the West Philippine Sea.

The Chinese Embassy argued that such an allegation is a “malicious” way for Filipino politicians to incite hatred of China.

“The unfounded accusation of our educational exchanges is yet another malicious sleight of hand to incite suspicion and hatred of China. Insightful people in the Philippines have not lost sight of this tendency by calling it ‘McCarthyism’ resurrecting in the Philippines,” the Embassy said in a statement.

McCarthyism was the political repression and persecution of left-wing individuals and a campaign that spread fear of alleged communist influence on American institutions and of Soviet espionage in the United States during the late 1940s through the 1950s.

“This deserves high vigilance and must be resolutely opposed,” the Embassy said.

According to the congressman, he received reports from his constituents that there are at least 4,600 Chinese students in one private university alone, and that they have been spotted in public places wearing student IDs.

Lara added he received information that Chinese students who come to Cagayan paid P1 million per person, with 80% of the amount going to an “agent” and the remaining 20% to the school.

“We just want to know why. We are not against having foreign students, but what we fear is we have an issue with China. If there are 4,600 Chinese students in one private university and the private university even admits it, it is very alarming,” Lara said.

In response, the Chinese Embassy said the maritime issues between the Philippines and China are only being used for the self interest of certain Filipino politicians and to undermine the cooperation between the two nations.

“Individual Philippine politicians are hyping up China-Philippines maritime issues and exaggerating the maritime differences in the name of national security to serve their political agenda and self-interest and undermine China-Philippines cooperation,” it said.

The Embassy also said that the educational exchanges between the Philippines and China are growing fast in recent years, “supporting a deeper mutual understanding between our two peoples and promoting mutually beneficial cooperation and exchanges between our two countries.”

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Wednesday said it is already investigating the reported increase of Chinese students in Cagayan, a province in northern Luzon that is close to Taiwan.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) said the presence of Chinese students in Cagayan was valid and has basis, and that they had been invited by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). 

The PNP said the provincial police have not monitored any complaints involving Chinese nationals.—RF, GMA Integrated News