Malacañang on Wednesday assured that no foreign nationals, including Chinese citizens, were being harassed in the Philippines, stressing that the country remains welcoming of all nationalities.

Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro was responding to concerns raised by the Chinese Embassy, stressing that such issues were simply part of normal consular functions and did not indicate a specific targeting of Chinese nationals.

The Chinese Embassy in the Philippines issued a statement on Tuesday alleging that Chinese citizens and businesses were “frequently interrogated and harassed” by Philippine authorities.

The embassy also warned of rising security risks for Chinese nationals in the country.

In its advisory, China encouraged its citizens to “strengthen security precautions and emergency preparedness” when in or traveling to the Philippines.

“Their travel advisory is simply a normal consular function of China. We want to assure China that we are not targeting any particular nationality or individual for harassment,” Castro said in a press briefing.

Castro said the Chinese statement likely stemmed from the ongoing enforcement of regulations on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), particularly since Chinese nationals were involved in these operations.

“Let’s remember, everyone here is welcome, except of course when they commit a crime then we will implement the law,” she said.

She clarified that there is a distinct issue regarding Chinese nationals in POGOs, which have been largely shut down following the government ban.

“They are probably raising this issue because of our crackdown on POGOs — which should no longer be operating here — and most of those involved are Chinese nationals. So this could be one of the issues at play,” Castro said.

She affirmed that the Department of Foreign Affairs is open to discussions with the Chinese government regarding their concerns and that the Philippine government remains committed to fostering good diplomatic relations with China.

“We assure China we are not targeting any particular nationality,” she reiterated.

Her remarks came amid the ongoing effort of the Philippine government to shut down illegal online gaming operations, which had raised concerns about human trafficking, illegal activities and their impact on public safety.

The closure of POGO operations has led to some tensions, particularly with the involvement of Chinese nationals.

The government continues to stress that all foreigners are welcome as long as they comply with Philippine laws.