ISTANBUL

Beijing on Friday warned Chinese students of safety risks in the Philippines amid tensions between the two sides.

China’s Education Ministry, in a statement, urged students to “carefully assess security risks” and “strengthen safety awareness” before travelling to the Philippines, according to the South China Morning Post.

“Recently, public security in the Philippines has been unstable, with frequent crimes targeting Chinese citizens. The Ministry of Education reminds all students studying abroad to carefully assess security risks when choosing to study in the Philippines and to strengthen safety awareness,” the statement said.

Later, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian reiterated the message at a news conference in Beijing: "The alert is a responsible and legitimate measure taken by the Chinese government to protect the safety and rights and interests of Chinese students overseas."

Lin also urged Manila to "take concrete actions to protect the safety, dignity and lawful rights and interests of Chinese students studying in the Philippines," according to a transcript of the news conference

The warning comes amid heightened tensions between Manila and Beijing in the South China Sea.