China has renewed warnings against illegal gambling by its citizens in Southeast Asia as it pushes for joint action with regional law enforcement agencies to crack down on the activity.

The most recent warning came last week when the Chinese embassy in Manila said that Chinese companies and individuals in the Philippines would be “punished in accordance with Chinese law” for any involvement in illegal gambling.

Associate professor Li Mingjiang, from Nanyang Technological University’s S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, said Chinese police played an advisory role in the operations.

“Chinese police come to the target country, help provide intelligence and advise local police,” Li said.