Philippine universities defend mainland Chinese students on Taiwan-facing province: 'blatant racism, Sinophobia'
Philippine universities have defended the presence of mainland Chinese students on a province facing Taiwan, saying they brought diversity to the country and that portraying them as a threat to national security "reeked of Sinophobia".
A group of institutions in Cagayan's Tuguegarao City, including the Medical Colleges of the Northern Philippines and Saint Paul University Philippines, said casting aspersions on foreign students was "deeply offensive".
"It is a blatant display of racism and Sinophobia that has no place in our society, especially within the realm of education," it said in a joint statement on Thursday.
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The coalition said the enrolment of international students in Cagayan's universities and colleges showed their commitment to diversity and inclusivity.
The remarks came after some lawmakers expressed alarm over the presence of more than 4,000 non-local students in the province that is also home to military bases accessed by US troops in the Philippines.
But the varsities rejected that claim, saying Saint Paul University Philippines has 486 foreign graduates while the rest have no overseas students.
The Chinese embassy in Manila also weighed in, accusing Philippine politicians of fanning "hatred of China" by linking its nationals to the long-running maritime dispute in the South China Sea.
"The unfounded accusation of our educational exchanges is yet another malicious sleight of hand to incite suspicion and hatred of China," the diplomatic mission said, adding that academic cooperation between the two sides had been "growing fast" in recent years.
According to the Philippines' bureau of immigration, about 1,500 foreigners were granted student visas last year.
Beijing's response triggered criticism from Philippine Senator Ronald dela Rosa, also a former police chief, who said it was "normal for us to doubt China" due to its "aggressive behaviour" in the contested waterway.
"We know what they're doing in the West Philippine Sea. So who wouldn't doubt if they're not doing anything wrong there in the West Philippine Sea? Would we doubt their presence here?" he said.
The West Philippine Sea is the term Manila uses to describe the eastern parts of the South China Sea that are within its exclusive economic zone and territorial waters.
Dela Rosa also backed the lawmakers that sought an investigation into the presence of Chinese students in Cagayan, saying Beijing has "no right to dictate to Filipino politicians", the Philippine Daily Inquirer reported.
The Southeast Asian nation has accused China's coastguard and other boats of frequently blocking and water-cannoning its ships in the South China Sea.
Beijing claims sovereignty over almost the entirety of the resource-rich waterway - where the Philippines and several other nations have competing claims - and has rejected a 2016 international ruling that ruled in favour of Manila and found no legal basis in China's assertions.
This article originally appeared on the South China Morning Post (SCMP).
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