China and Philippines Clash Over Illegal Gambling Operations

China and the Philippines are at odds over illegal offshore gambling operations, with potential repercussions for the Philippines' tourism industry. The Philippines may be blacklisted by China due to concerns about illegal offshore gambling operations targeting Chinese gamblers.

Philippine Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri claimed that China had placed the Philippines on a tourism blacklist due to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) targeting Chinese gamblers and workers. The Philippine gaming regulator, PAGCOR, has stated that POGOs are acting illegally, leading to the closure of 175 online gambling companies.

The Philippine Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the closure of 175 online gambling companies due to reports of murder, kidnapping, and other crimes committed by Chinese nationals against fellow Chinese nationals. Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri stated that Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian mentioned the Philippines being on a Chinese blacklist of tourist sites due to safety concerns related to POGO operations. However, the Chinese government denied the existence of a blacklist, stating that discussions focused on supporting China's anti-gambling approach.