Members of the House of Representatives strongly condemned China Daily’s AI-generated video depicting Filipinos as monkeys, calling it a racist and dehumanizing attack that reflects Beijing’s alleged attempt to undermine the Philippines’ position on the West Philippine Sea.
The House Young Guns — Deputy Speakers Paolo Ortega and Jay Khonghun, along with Congressmen Zia Alonto Adiong and Ernix Dionisio — said the material was an unacceptable form of propaganda and expressed support for the statements issued by the Department of National Defense and the Department of Foreign Affairs.
“Depicting Filipinos as monkeys is not merely offensive — it is a vile, racist attack that exposes the moral bankruptcy and intellectual desperation of Beijing’s propaganda apparatus,” the lawmakers said.
The lawmakers said the incident follows what they described as a pattern of China making expansive claims over areas in the South China Sea that are within the Philippines’ maritime entitlements, followed by attacks against those who challenge its position through international law.
They emphasized that the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award, issued under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), remains a final and legally binding ruling that affirmed the Philippines’ sovereign rights.
“Dati nang-aangkin lang ng hindi sa kanila — ngayon naman nangungutya na,” the Young Guns said.
“This is not how a responsible regional power behaves. This is the conduct of a bully that has run out of legal arguments and has resorted to bigotry,” they added.
The lawmakers said several countries have publicly supported the arbitral ruling, while no country has recognized China’s expansive nine-dash-line claim.
They accused China of using propaganda that glorifies violence against Filipino fishermen and soldiers, spreads hatred, and demeans an entire nation through racist imagery.
The Young Guns stressed that the Philippines would not be intimidated and called on China Daily to remove the material.
“We reject this degrading propaganda in its entirety. We demand that China Daily immediately remove the offensive materials and that Beijing halt all future racist content,” they said.
“Public discourse between nations must be rooted in dignity, mutual respect, and truth — not lies, threats, and dehumanizing caricatures,” they added.
Meanwhile, Pinoy Workers Party-list Rep. Karl Josef Fernandez Legazpi also condemned the video, saying the portrayal of Filipinos as “monkeys” was an unacceptable attack on national dignity.
“This kind of propaganda is not only insulting, but a blatant insult to the dignity of Filipinos,” Legazpi said.
He said racist imagery does not alter facts or contribute to peacefully resolving disputes in accordance with international law.
“Propaganda will not change the truth. The rights recognized under international law, including those affirmed by the 2016 Arbitral Award, cannot be erased by bullying or ridicule,” Legazpi said.
Legazpi also emphasized that the West Philippine Sea issue goes beyond territorial claims, highlighting its impact on Filipino fisherfolk, food security, and national dignity.
“As I have consistently advocated, the West Philippine Sea is not only a territorial issue. It is about the livelihoods of our fisherfolk, our food security, and the dignity of every Filipino,” he said.
The lawmaker urged Filipinos to remain united in defending the country’s rights and rejecting racism.
“The dignity of the Filipino cannot be diminished by smear campaigns or propaganda. Let us continue to fight for our rights, for our fisherfolk, and for our country,” Legazpi said.
The China Daily video titled “The Philippine Politicians Karaoke Show” was released alongside the 10th anniversary of the 2016 Arbitral Award, which rejected China’s sweeping claims in the South China Sea.
The AI-generated video showed a monkey wearing a Barong Tagalog being thrown into the South China Sea, later rescued by a Chinese ship, and eventually struck by a water cannon after allegedly singing incorrect lyrics.