Chinese businessman kidnapped in S. Philippines

Chinese embassy in Manila confirmed on Friday night that a Chinese businessman was kidnapped in southern Philippine province of Zamboanga Sibugay on Thursday night.

Upon hearing the news of abduction, Chinese consul general in Cebu rushed to the venue. The anti-kidnapping bureau of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and local police branch have confirmed the hijackee was a Chinese national, said Li Lingxiao, spokeswoman of the Chinese Embassy.

Li urged the Philippine side to take rescue operation immediately, and ensure the safety of the Chinese citizens.

Philippine security forces said military operations are underway to rescue the victim, and they will keep close contacts with the Chinese Embassy.

Earlier reports said the man, 18, was a Korean, but later verification showed that he was a Chinese.

Li was seized by four armed men with high-powered firearms at around 6 p.m. at the Kabasalan town. The suspects boarded him onto their multi-cab van and then transferred into a waiting motorized pump boat which fled to an unknown direction, said Franco Suelto, spokesman of the Army's 1st Infantry Division.

China warned on Friday its citizens not to travel to the Philippines after Li was kidnapped in the Philippines.

Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a regular news briefing on Friday said that given that the safety situation in the Philippines is deteriorating, the consular service of the foreign ministry is asking Chinese nationals not to travel to Philippines for the time being.

The warning comes after a foiled attack by an "ultra-rightist" group at a number of public sites in Metro Manila early this month, including the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and the Chinese Embassy, which later confirmed by Philippine police.