MANILA, Philippines (AP) — China has warned its citizens not to travel to the Philippines after a Chinese teenager who worked in a family-run store was kidnapped and after government agents arrested a group of men who said they planned to attack the Chinese embassy in Manila.

“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 the Philippines for the time being,” the Chinese Foreign Ministry said Friday.