What will China’s travel warnings about the Philippines mean for business ties?

China has issued four travel advisories warning of risks in the Philippines since April, with analysts saying that two-way trade, investment and higher education exchanges could slow if they are heeded by Chinese citizens.

The latest notice, issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on August 30, described public security in the Philippines as “unstable” with “numerous crimes targeting Chinese citizens”. A similar advisory went out on April 1, and the Ministry of Education issued warnings in April and August for Chinese students in the Philippines.

Analysts say the average Chinese citizen visiting the archipelago for legal trade, investment, study or tourism seldom gets in trouble, although they need to be alert to potential risks.

Why are these advisories coming so quickly, and how do they affect China’s economic links to Philippines?

Why has China issued four travel advisories in five months?

Last month, the Philippines’ Bureau of Immigration detained mining company executive Joseph Sy on suspicion that he is a Chinese national who acquired Philippine citizenship documents illegally. A regional court has twice ordered his release from detention, saying it breached his rights as a Philippine citizen, but the bureau has lodged an appeal against those orders and has yet to comply with them. Sy is the chairman of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s mining committee.