About 150 Chinese teachers working at Chinese-language schools in the Philippines have reportedly begun returning to China in batches since late September, amid concerns over alleged Chinese Communist Party (CCP) United Front activities and national security. The departures affect several prominent Chinese-Filipino schools and come as tensions between Manila and Beijing continue to rise over maritime disputes.
The concerns were heightened by reports from Ray Powell, founder and director of the Stanford-affiliated SeaLight project. Powell’s reports alleged that PCERC, which coordinates more than 100 Chinese-language schools in the Philippines, has close ties to the CCP’s United Front system. The reports also highlighted PCERC programs that bring Chinese teachers to the Philippines and send Filipino-Chinese students to Chinese universities for training. They cited a seminar at Jinan University at which Chinese scholars reportedly questioned Philippine sovereignty over the Batanes Islands, as well as a 2025 essay competition jointly organized by PCERC and the Philippine Association for the Promotion of Peaceful Reunification of China.
Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. subsequently warned the public to remain vigilant about China-related cultural and educational exchanges, saying United Front activities are a core part of the CCP’s strategy and that foreign-funded academic exchanges could potentially be used to establish footholds and collect intelligence. He also said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had instructed intelligence and law-enforcement agencies to take evidence-based action against malicious activities, while cautioning against anti-foreign sentiment or prejudice toward the Chinese-Filipino community.
The Chinese Embassy in Manila rejected the allegations as a “malicious smear campaign” against China-Philippines educational exchanges. The Philippine Chinese Education Research Center (PCERC) and the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FFCCCII) said the teachers’ return was approved by the Chinese Embassy and relevant authorities, citing safety concerns raised by the teachers’ families.
Source: The Epoch Times, October 6, 2026
https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/26/10/5/n14863967.htm