The Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce & Industry Inc. (FFCCCII), the largest Fil-Chinese business group in the Philippines, has called out the “unjust criticism” leveled at Chinese students in Cagayan province.
“We unequivocally denounce the unjust criticism directed towards Chinese students who have come to the Philippines to enhance their English proficiency. It is disheartening to witness such unwarranted attacks, particularly when our ASEAN neighbors, such as Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore, host significantly larger numbers of Chinese students,” said FFCCCII President Dr. Cecilio K. Pedro in a statement on April 23.
“These remarks not only undermine our country's hospitality but also impede efforts to foster stronger ties between our nations and to de-escalate tensions,” he added.
In the past week, Cagayan Representative Joseph Lara filed House Resolution No. 1666, seeking an inquiry into the alleged surge of Chinese students enrolling in higher education institutions (HEIs) in Tuguegarao, Cagayan, saying they may pose as threats to national security.
This has prompted national agencies like the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to verify the claims and the National Security Agency (NSA) to respond.
According to CHED, a “significant number” of Chinese students enrolled in the province are studying in Saint Paul University Philippines (SPUP) – Tuguegarao City. There is no record of Chinese students in local public colleges and universities.
SPUP is an autonomous higher education institution (HEI) that can accept foreign students and establish connections with foreign HEIs. So far, CHED said it has not received complaints as to the violation of Joint Memorandum Order No. 01, s. 2017 of the Inter-Agency Committee on Foreign Students (IACFS), pertaining to the entry and stay of foreign students in the country.
The NSA said last April 20 that it is probing the reports to determine if this is a threat to national security.
Meanwhile, Senator Risa Hontiveros filed a resolution in the Senate on April 23 to investigate foreigners who are using fraudulent documents to enter the country, citing possible instances of foreigners who may have used their enrollment in the school as a cover for their falsified records.
Amid these reactions, the FFCCCII stressed that the “unfair and negative statements contradict our nation's efforts to attract Chinese tourists and investors, thus jeopardizing our international reputation as a premier destination for tourism and investment, especially in the flourishing market of education tourism across Asia.”
“We urge for a more constructive discourse that respects diversity and promotes harmony, in alignment with our shared values of hospitality and goodwill. Together, let us seize opportunities for international collaboration and mutual growth, paving the way for a brighter and more stable future for both the Philippines and China,” said Pedro.