The reported increase in the number of Chinese students who have enrolled in Cagayan prompted the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to launch a monitoring activity as fears of espionage were floated on social media.
Col. Francel Margareth Padilla, AFP spokesperson, said they have taken notice of reports about the influx of Chinese students in Cagayan, a province in the northern part of the country near the self-ruled Taiwan.
“Any report po, the AFP takes [them] seriously so we are looking into this,” Padilla said in a press conference at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Tuesday, April 16.
She said a coordination has been made with the Philippine National Police (PNP) to augment their force to preserve peace and order in the province.
“We'll be working with them closely on this matter so investigation will be on their end and if there will be AFP requirements from their end, then we will be extending our assistance accordingly,” she added.
Reports surfaced that there has been an increase in the number of Chinese students "roaming around" Cagayan, particularly near an Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) site in the province.
Last year, the national government approved the establishment of four additional EDCA sites, two of which are located at the Naval Base Camilo Osias and Lal-lo Airport in Cagayan, which is facing Taiwan in the northern part of the country.
The increased presence of Chinese students was also reported in Cebu, where one of the five original EDCA sites is located: the Benito Ebuen Air Base.
China, which considers Taiwan as part of its territory, previously warned the Philippines “not to play with fire on the Taiwan issue” as the Department of National Defense (DND) beefs up the military presence in the northern Luzon.
In a statement, the provincial government of Cagayan explained that the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) and Chinese learning institutions signed a memorandum of agreement in 2019 which allows the enrollment of Chinese students in the province.
The statement quoted Cagayan Gov. Manuel N. Mamba as saying that there was no clear basis that the presence of Chinese students in the province is connected with the tension in the West Philippine Sea.
“The office of Governor Mamba assures the public that the foreign students in Cagayan undergo the correct process and have sufficient documents. Each foreign student entering the country and the province are required to have a student visa and other necessary documents approved by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA),” the provincial government said.
“Cagayan maintains its position as a friend to everybody and enemy to none as it opens its doors for foreigners who want to invest in the province,” it added.