BEIJING -- China's Ministry of Education released an overseas study alert on Saturday, once again urging Chinese students who intend to study in the Philippines in the near future to strengthen their risk assessment, learn about necessary precautions and plan their study arrangements with care.

The ministry cited a recent rise in crimes against Chinese citizens in the Philippines, the Philippines' deteriorating public security situation and its unfavorable study environment as the reasons for the alert.

This is the second alert concerning study in the Philippines issued this year. In April, the ministry also released an alert to warn students of the risks of studying in certain US states.