St. Paul University Philippines (SPUP) saw an overwhelming number of Chinese nationals among its most recent PhD graduates, igniting discussions on both educational exchanges and potential security concerns. At the university’s mid-year commencement ceremony last January 27, a total of 361 out of 393 PhD graduates were Chinese students. In some programs, like the Doctor in Public Administration and Doctor of Philosophy in Science Education, the graduates were exclusively Chinese.
The influx of Chinese students extends to SPUP’s Master’s programs, where around 60 of the 687 graduates were Chinese nationals. The concentration of Chinese students is especially prominent in thesis-based tracks, such as Business Administration and Public Administration, where entire cohorts are composed of Chinese nationals.
This rising number of Chinese students has stirred apprehension among local residents, particularly against the backdrop of escalating tensions between the Philippines and China concerning disputes in the West Philippine Sea. In August 2023, the Chinese Coast Guard vessel rammed the Philippine ship BRP Teresa Magbanua, which only contributes to the heightening anxieties about Chinese influence in local communities.
Cagayan 3rd District Representative Joseph “Jojo” Lara recently called for an inquiry into the increasing number of Chinese students in the province. “Their growing presence, especially with ongoing territorial disputes, could pose a national security risk,” Lara said. “We need to understand why there has been such a surge.”
Surigao del Norte Representative Robert Ace Barbers echoed Lara’s concerns, stressing that raising questions about national security should not be dismissed as racism. “Alam mo, iyong mga nagsasabing Sinophobia at saka racism iyon, sila iyong may ganoong tendency. Tayo ay nagtatanong – national security iyong concern,” Barbers remarked. “Buti sana kung marites (gossipers) lang ito,” he added. “And because this is a national security issue, hindi masama na magduda tayo, hindi masama na magtanong tayo at hindi rin masama na imbestigahan natin iyon.”
Some lawmakers have also raised suspicions about the timing of this influx. Senator Risa Hontiveros noted the proximity of Cagayan’s two Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites, which serve as prepositioning locations for U.S. military personnel and equipment. “It seems like there are too many coincidences for them to say that it’s just people-to-people. Whereas their people-to-people relationship with us, especially in the ocean, is very unfriendly, right?” Hontiveros commented.
Despite calls for investigation, local officials and the Chinese Embassy have downplayed concerns. Tuguegarao Mayor Maila Ting-Que and Cagayan Governor Manuel Mamba both urged the public to avoid racial profiling. “The increasing number of Chinese students should not be seen as a threat,” Ting-Que said. “We must focus on welcoming them as part of our academic community, not perpetuate Sinophobia.”
The Chinese Embassy also issued a statement, calling accusations of security threats “unfounded” and a product of “malicious attempts” to incite fear and suspicion of China. “Insightful people in the Philippines have rightly called this a resurgence of McCarthyism,” the embassy noted.
1-Rider Partylist Representative Ramon Rodrigo Gutierrez criticized the Chinese Embassy’s reaction to the inquiry. “For the Chinese embassy to issue a statement directly attacking the inquiry and the motives that Cong. Lara may have — is this the non-interference that China espouses?” he asked. “But if there is any truth to the claim, even a semblance, would this not warrant an investigation? Would this not be a national security concern? Is that not the whole point of an inquiry, to ferret out the truth and bolster our laws?”
Despite reassurances from local leaders and the Chinese government, questions remain about why Chinese nationals have chosen Tuguegarao in such large numbers. With classes for SPUP’s graduate programs mostly taking place only on weekends and even with a hybrid option available, there is growing curiosity as to what the students are busy with during weekdays.