State-owned China Daily’s artificial intelligence-generated video depicting Filipinos as monkeys is not only racist and demoralizing, but it is also meant to undermine the Philippines’ lawful victory under the 2016 Arbitral Award on the West Philippine Sea, Senator Kiko Pangilinan said.
In an interview on Radio Veritas, Pangilinan remarked that the video was nothing but propaganda by China to spread lies about the arbitral ruling.
“Kaya maliwanag dito sa usapin nung ating arbitral ruling na 10 taon nang lumabas, 10 years since it was decided in our favor, ay sinasabayan nila ng paraan para ipawalang bisa o kaya mag-propagandize ng kasinungalingan at sirain ang ating pagkapanalo dito sa arbitral ruling na ito sa Hague,” the veteran legislator stressed.
“Makikita natin na walang katapusan ang pagsisinungaling.”
“So kinundina natin at makikita natin na walang katapusan ang pagsisinungaling,” the seasoned lawmaker added.
The senator, who has been at the receiving end of the Chinese Embassy in Manila’s ire in recent months, denounced the video in an earlier statement as “racist” and “deeply offensive”. He also urged Beijing to take the video down, issue a public apology, and hold those responsible for the video accountable.
In the video, a monkey dressed in the traditional Barong Tagalog sings karaoke while reading from a script supposedly from the United States and Japan.
It also showed the monkey being blasted by a water cannon, which is a reference to the China Coast Guard’s repeated use of water cannons to scare Filipino fishermen away from the disputed West Philippine Sea.
Noting that China used to hold in high regard its relationship with the Philippines, Pangilinan said that such “condemnable actuations and propaganda material” from Beijing is “most unfortunate”.
He also underscored the importance of internationalizing the issue, likening China’s recent aggressive actions to school bullies, saying he had the protection of his older brother when he was in high school.
“Sa international community kailangan meron tayong mga kinikilalang strong—and then strengthening our alliances—and that’s the way to deal with bullies.”
“So ganun din sa international community kailangan meron tayong mga kinikilalang strong—and then strengthening our alliances—and that’s the way to deal with bullies,” Pangilinan said.
“Kaya napakahalaga nung ruling na ‘yun at ‘yung affirmation ng statement ng maraming mga bansa, palakasin pa natin. Ayaw ng kabila diyan, gusto nila i-localize lang ito pero hindi tayo papayag,” he added.
The Philippines recently commemorated the 10th anniversary of the arbitral victory, which invalidated the basis for China’s nine-dash line claim, which covers almost the entire West Philippine Sea.
Countries like the United States, Germany, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and many others have recognized and expressed support for the ruling.
Despite China’s ire at his recent statements, Pangilinan said he will remain unyielding, having been banned from entering the country in 2023 after it banned officials of the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD), of which he was the chairperson.
“So, akala nila itong mga ginagawa nila, matatakot tayo. Kabaligtaran ang mangyayari. Lalo nating paiigtingin ang pagtutol sa kanila. Hindi tayo papayag. Long game ito para sa kanila; long game din ito para sa atin. We just have to keep that effort. Sabi nga, di pasisiil,” he concluded.
