Philippine Military to Probe ‘Gradual Encroachment’ of Chinese Students in Province Near Taiwan
Concerns have been raised by Philippine lawmakers regarding the increasing number of Chinese students in Cagayan Province, describing it as a “creeping invasion.” This has led to the Philippine armed forces looking into the issue.
Cagayan is situated at the northern tip of Luzon island, facing Taiwan.
On April 17, The Philippines Star reported that over 4,600 Chinese nationals have enrolled in a local university and rented residences in various parts of Tuguegarao City.
Col. Francel Margareth Padilla, the spokesperson for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), mentioned that the military will be collaborating with the Philippine National Police (PNP) to address the situation.
During a press briefing on April 16, Col. Padilla stated, “The AFP takes this seriously, so we are looking into this, but in terms of peace and order issues, that is the mandate of the PNP. We’ll be working with them closely on this matter, so investigations will be on their end, and if there will be AFP requirements from their end, then we will be extending our assistance accordingly.”
At a press briefing on April 16, Filipino Congressman Robert Ace Barbers expressed his worries about the increasing numbers of Chinese workers, businessmen, tourists, and students in the country, labeling it as a “creeping invasion.”
He voiced his concerns about the inexplicable presence of Chinese nationals in the Philippines, questioning the lack of suspicion from relevant agencies.
National Security Threat
The escalating sovereignty disputes in the South China Sea between the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the Philippines have prompted Manila to strengthen its ties with Washington.
Under the U.S. Enhance Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), the number of EDCA sites expanded from five to nine last year, with two in Cagayan: Naval Base Camilo Osias in Santa Ana town and Lal-lo Airport in Lal-lo municipality.
Given its geopolitical significance amidst the current security complexities of the Taiwan Strait, Cagayan is strategically crucial.
To address the Chinese presence in Cagayan, which is deemed vital within the country’s territorial domain, Cagayan’s Third District Rep. Joseph “Jojo” L. Lara collaborated with the National Intelligence and Coordinating Agency to investigate the issue as a national security concern.
In a resolution filed on March 20, Mr. Lara and Faustino Dy V of Isabela’s Sixth District highlighted the increase in Chinese citizens in Cagayan as students enrolled in universities, indicating a threat to national security and the economy, according to a report by the South China Morning Post (SCMP).
Additionally, Philippine security analyst Chester Cabalza expressed concerns about the influx of Chinese nationals in Cagayan, particularly given the province’s geopolitical significance in relation to Taiwan.
Mr. Cabalza told the SCMP that the new Chinese arrivals, described as “rich students and businessmen,” arrived in the province amidst geopolitical tensions in the Taiwan Strait and the rotational presence of American soldiers in Northern Luzon.
Zhang Ting contributed to this report.
