Are there how many Chinese in the Philippines?
The term "Chinese" can mean many things: long-time pure or ethnic Chinese residents, pure Chinese immigrants who have immigrated recently, or Filipinos of Chinese descent.
We can also further consider Chinese citizens who are here for vacation, employment and business.
The latest Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data on foreigners is so old it no longer represents or even to just give a hint of the actual trend at present.
Based on the 2010 Philippine Census, the Chinese were the second-biggest foreign group in the Philippines, with a total of 28,750. Americans were the biggest group, with a total of 29,959. Third and fourth were those from Japan and from India.
These days, in 2019, just based on news entities, social media and word of mouth, it is now the Chinese nationals who comprise the biggest foreign group in the Philippines.
According to a statement by the late Senator Edgardo Angara in 2013, as of that year, there were about 1.35 million ethnic or pure Chinese residing in the Philippines, in addition to about 22.8 million who are of Chinese descent.
According to a June 2018 article by Ian Nicolas Cigaral on Philstar.com, a total of 3.12 million Chinese citizens have entered the Philippines over the period from January 2016 to May 2018, based on data given by the Bureau of Immigration to Philstar.com. A total of 2.44 million came from mainland China while the rest came from Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.
The BI data also showed that a total of 4,486 Chinese nationals were denied entry over the same period, from 2016 to May 2018.
With a big number of Chinese nationals continuously coming in, it's expected that the total number of Chinese in the Philippines will shoot up quickly to an overwhelming number.
According to a statement by the late Senator Edgardo Angara in 2013, as of that year, there were about 1.35 million ethnic or pure Chinese residing in the Philippines, in addition to about 22.8 million who are of Chinese descent.
According to a June 2018 article by Ian Nicolas Cigaral on Philstar.com, a total of 3.12 million Chinese citizens have entered the Philippines over the period from January 2016 to May 2018, based on data given by the Bureau of Immigration to Philstar.com. A total of 2.44 million came from mainland China while the rest came from Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.
The BI data also showed that a total of 4,486 Chinese nationals were denied entry over the same period, from 2016 to May 2018.
With a big number of Chinese nationals continuously coming in, it's expected that the total number of Chinese in the Philippines will shoot up quickly to an overwhelming number.
I cannot yet find data on the current number of Chinese nationals in the Philippines, but we can see the big influx of Chinese citizens into the Philippines through the following news releases from the Philippine Bureau of Immigration.
- A total of 1,129 Chinese nationals were denied entry at Philippine airports in the first half of 2019 after they were found to be unfit for admission due to various reasons. Other foreign nationals who were denied entry were 106 Indians, 87 Americans, 52 Taiwanese, and 67 Koreans.
- The Bureau of Immigration (BI) said that they will implement changes so that only properly-documented and legitimate foreigners are allowed into the country. In reply to concerns about the rising number of Chinese nationals in the Philippines, the BI cited the Chinese tourism boom which is also happening in other countries, and the employment of Chinese workers in the emerging Philippine online gaming industry.
- In reply to concerns about the visa upon arrival (VUA) program, which was implemented by the Department of Tourism (DOT) in 2017 to attract more Chinese tourists and investors, the BI said they're only giving VUA to pre-checked Chinese citizens and those endorsed by a DOT-accredited travel agency.
- The BI said that in June 2019, only around 6,000 Chinese nationals were given VUAs, which is just 5% of all the Chinese nationals coming to the Philippines.
- The BI said that many Chinese nationals living in the Philippines, both immigrants and non-immigrants, visit their homeland for the Chinese New Year.
In the year 2018 alone, a total of 1,309,289 Chinese citizens were recorded to have left the country for their homeland's New Year celebrations.
- The Bureau of Immigration (BI) said that they will implement changes so that only properly-documented and legitimate foreigners are allowed into the country. In reply to concerns about the rising number of Chinese nationals in the Philippines, the BI cited the Chinese tourism boom which is also happening in other countries, and the employment of Chinese workers in the emerging Philippine online gaming industry.
- In reply to concerns about the visa upon arrival (VUA) program, which was implemented by the Department of Tourism (DOT) in 2017 to attract more Chinese tourists and investors, the BI said they're only giving VUA to pre-checked Chinese citizens and those endorsed by a DOT-accredited travel agency.
- The BI said that in June 2019, only around 6,000 Chinese nationals were given VUAs, which is just 5% of all the Chinese nationals coming to the Philippines.
- The BI said that many Chinese nationals living in the Philippines, both immigrants and non-immigrants, visit their homeland for the Chinese New Year.
In the year 2018 alone, a total of 1,309,289 Chinese citizens were recorded to have left the country for their homeland's New Year celebrations.
References:
Foreign Citizens in the Philippines (Results from the 2010 Census, Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)Household Population by Country of Citizenship: Philippines, 2010, Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)
BI Steps Up Campaign Against Illegal Aliens, August 1, 2019, Bureau of Immigration (BI)
2,300 aliens denied entry in 1st half of 2019, July 29, 2019, Bureau of Immigration (BI)
Departing Sino Travelers Told: ‘Process Your Reentry Fees in BI Offices,’ January 23, 2019, Bureau of Immigration (BI)
More than 3 million Chinese allowed entry into Philippines since 2016 -- Immigration data, June 9, 2018, Philstar.com
More than 3 million Chinese allowed entry into Philippines since 2016 -- Immigration data, June 9, 2018, Philstar.com
Senate declares Chinese New Year as special working holiday, January 21, 2013, Senate of the Philippines
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