PH Senators slam China Daily's 'unacceptable, racist' post

Senators on Friday echoed calls for a state-run Chinese media to take down what they called an "unacceptable" social media video depicting Filipinos as monkeys.

In a press statement Friday, Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan lambasted China Daily over what he calls “racist” AI-generated social media video criticizing the 2016 arbitral award that invalidated China’s claims in the contested West Philippine Sea (WPS).

“Hayagang racist, mapanghamak, at lubos na hindi katanggap-tanggap ang AI-generated video ng China Daily na inilalarawan ang Pilipino bilang matsing,” the senator said.

(The AI-generated video of China Daily depicting Filipinos as monkeys is racist, dehumanizing, and unacceptable.)

Pangilinan denounced the social media post as “dehumanizing” and “unacceptable” as he urged China to immediately order its removal.

“Hindi ito nararapat sa anumang media organization na nagsasabing nagsisilbi sa katotohanan, lalo na sa isang state-run media outlet na kumakatawan sa isang bansa,” he added.

(It is not proper for any media organization that claims to serve the truth, especially a state-run media outlet that represents a country.)

'Deeply offensive'

The Philippines, through the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), has demanded China Daily to take down the AI-generated video, describing it as “racist” and “deeply offensive.”

China Daily’s social media post was made on July 10, two days before the 10th anniversary of the historic decision by the Permanent Court of Arbitration that upheld the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.

The post featured a video showing a monkey dressed in a barong tagalog and a salakot and being dictated to on what to say by what appeared to be American and Japanese characters. It also showed the monkey being sprayed with a water cannon on the high seas after being given the arbitral award.

According to Pangilinan, he is disappointed the video came from China, a country whose citizens likewise experienced racism and discrimination in other parts of the world.

“Nananawagan kami sa pamahalaan ng People's Republic of China na agad nitong utusan ang China Daily na alisin ang naturang video, humingi ng malinaw at pampublikong paumanhin, at papanagutin ang mga responsable sa paglikha at pagpapalabas nito,” said Pangilinan.

(We call on the Chinese government to order China Daily to immediately take down the video and to issue a clear public apology over the incident. We also urge them to hold accountable all those responsible behind the video.)

“Ang tunay na pamumuno sa daigdig ay nakabatay sa dignidad, paggalang sa kapwa, at pananagutan — hindi sa pagpapakalat ng mga racist stereotype na ipinapalabas bilang ‘impormasyon’ o ‘komentaryo’,” he said.

(True global leadership is based on dignity, respect and accountability, not on spreading racist stereotypes dressed as information or commentaries.)

Meanwhile, Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson asked, “Kung unggoy ang turing nila sa mga Pilipino, ano sila kung pag-uugali at karakter ang batayan?”

(If they see Filipinos as monkeys, then what are they in terms of traits and characteristics?)

Senate Majority Floor Leader Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri likewise condemned the video but said the Philippines “will take the high road and refuse to answer such provocation with the same contempt.”

“We can disagree on the West Philippine Sea, but no self-respecting nation should allow that dispute to descend into racism and dehumanization. Disputes are settled by law, evidence and diplomacy, not by intimidation, threats and crude propaganda,” said Zubiri.

“The Philippines will continue to uphold the rights affirmed under the 2016 Arbitral Award and defend our position through law, facts and diplomacy,” he added.

Senator Robinhood Padilla, for his part, expressed support to the DFA and called for the continuous exercise of diplomacy in resolving disagreements between states.

“Freedom of expression and political discourse must never become an excuse for racism, dehumanization, or attacks on the dignity of any people. Depicting Filipinos in such an offensive manner is unacceptable and deserves unequivocal condemnation,” said Padilla.

“Disagreements between states should be addressed through diplomacy, international law, and respectful dialogue—not through propaganda that insults an entire nation and undermines efforts to build trust and understanding," he added.

The Philippine government sued China before an international arbitral tribunal in The Hague in 2013. It ruled in favor of the Philippines in July 2016 when it junked China's nine-dash claim over the South China Sea.

China has refused to recognize the ruling. —VAL, GMA News