The Philippine government on Sunday disputed China's latest advisory warning its students about safety risks in the country, calling the security alert "inaccurate" and "mischaracterizing" the actual situation on the ground.

China’s Education Ministry has issued a safety warning for Chinese students in the Philippines, following what it describes as a series of criminal incidents targeting Chinese nationals.

Despite proclaiming a “one China” policy, Manila has been moving toward greater economic and security cooperation with Taipei.

China has lodged "stern representations" to the Philippines over recent "negative moves" concerning Taiwan, as well as maritime and security issues, a Chinese foreign ministry statement said on Friday.

Manila’s significant shift could pave the way for the Philippines, an American treaty ally, to play a bigger role in regional defense if China invades Taiwan.

Scarborough Shoal is located within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone and is nearly 700 miles from China.

Ministry of Education says public security in the Philippines has been unstable and Chinese have frequently been targeted.

The Taiwanese government is seeking to strengthen cooperation with the Philippines including on maritime patrols amid China’s increasing use of gray-zone tactics in the region.

The country has been gradually expanding military cooperation with the U.S., Japan, and Beijing-claimed Taiwan.

Some analysts argue that the decline in tourism is closely linked to the ongoing tensions between the Philippines and China. In 2019 the Philippines attracted 1.74 million Chinese tourists to enjoy its scores of warm,

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Sunday objected to a recent advisory issued by China’s Ministry of Education warning Chinese students of alleged security risks in the Philippines, saying it “mischaracterizes the situation” in the country.