More senators condemn China Daily video depicting Filipinos as monkeys

More senators have condemned China Daily’s AI-generated video depicting Filipinos as monkeys, with one lawmaker saying that Beijing should issue a public apology.

State-owned media outlet China Daily recently published an AI-generated video showing a monkey wearing a barong being directed to sing by arms labeled with Japan and the United States. The monkey was then hit by a water cannon.

The Philippines has since filed a diplomatic protest and demanded the removal of the video, citing its "demeaning, dehumanizing, and racist" content.

In a statement on Saturday, Senator Risa Hontiveros called the video "appalling," adding it undermined China’s credibility and cast doubt on its claims of "fostering friendship and mutual respect with the Philippines."

“The Chinese government owes the Filipino people a public apology. Until then, this utterly racist act will stand as a violation of the most basic standards of respect that should govern relations between nations. Racism has no place in public discourse, and certainly no place in statecraft,” Hontiveros said.

Senator Panfilo Lacson said the post reflected Beijing’s character.

“Kung unggoy ang turing nila sa mga Pilipino, ano sila kung pag-uugali at karakter ang batayan?” Lacson said in a statement.

(If China considers Filipinos as monkeys, then what does that say about its character?)

Lacson said China’s repeated bullying had only reinforced the 2016 Arbitral Award, which affirmed Manila’s claims over the West Philippine Sea.

The senator also said the Philippines must address corruption to strengthen its economy and improve its defense capabilities.

On Friday, Senators Francis Pangilinan and Juan Miguel Zubiri also condemned the video, with Zubiri saying that "disputes are settled by law, evidence, and diplomacy—not by intimidation, threats, and crude propaganda."

However, Senator Robin Padilla said Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Jay Tarriela had drawn first blood.

“As for the Chinese media, aren't we all monkeys of different colors in the eyes of white colonizers/supremacists? Filipinos are brown, and Chinese and Japanese are yellow,” Padilla said in a Facebook post.

Tarriela hit back at Padilla, saying his comments were insulting to the people who voted for him in the 2022 elections.

'Rooted in evidence'

Meanwhile, Department of National Defense spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arsenio Andolong said that 17 countries had explicitly backed the arbitral ruling, while 27 others had called on parties to respect the verdict.

Together with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Andolong said the DND would “unceasingly deploy our assets to secure our archipelagic nation.”

The DND would also continue to uphold the international rules-based order and international law by documenting and exposing coercive and aggressive activities in Philippine waters, the spokesperson added.

“We will demonstrate to the world that our actions are rooted in evidence, truth, and international law—not propaganda. This legal victory is an enduring inheritance belonging to every Filipino citizen and the generations of Filipinos yet to come,” Andolong said.

'One voice'

At a media forum in Quezon City on Saturday, De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde School of Diplomacy and Governance dean Dr. Gary Ador Dionisio urged the government to have a unified voice on the issue.

“Kasi ang hinamak dito ay hindi lang 'yung ating mga leader ng ating pamahalaan. Ang hinamak dito ay 'yung sambayanang Pilipino,” he said.

(Because the insult is not directed only at our government leaders. It is an insult to the entire Filipino nation.)

“Iyon siguro ang dapat tandaan. Kaya nakakalungkot kung hindi dito bibigyan ng suporta ng ating gobyerno at iko-condemn [at] the highest level. So ‘yan po siguro, dapat, magkaroon tayo ng one voice dito. Hindi lang po dapat DFA, hindi lang po DND. In fact, [all] instrumentalities of the government must speak [with] one voice on this concern,” he added.

(That is what we should keep in mind. It is disappointing if the government does not support this issue and condemn it at the highest level. We should have a unified voice on this matter. The response should not come only from the DFA or the DND. In fact, all instrumentalities of the government must speak with one voice on this concern.) —with Jamil Santos/VBL, GMA News