Cabinet Secretary Benhur Abalos has united with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in denouncing artificial intelligence-generated videos and editorial cartoons published by China Daily, asserting that Filipinos merit dignity and respect rather than racist and dehumanizing depictions.
In an official statement, Abalos expressed that the insulting illustrations deeply offended him, emphasizing that such behavior has no role in international relations.
”As a Filipino, I take deep offense at any attempt to belittle our people through offensive and degrading imagery. There is no place for racism or the dehumanization of any nation or people, especially in responsible public discourse,” he said.
“The Filipino people deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. We stand firmly with the Department of Foreign Affairs in rejecting these offensive portrayals and in defending the honor, dignity, and rights of every Filipino,” he added.
Abalos voiced his complete backing for the DFA’s reprimand of the Chinese media outlet regarding the broadsheets and videos targeted at the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award.
”We join the Department of Foreign Affairs in strongly condemning the publication by China Daily of AI-generated videos and editorial cartoons that portray Filipinos in a racist and dehumanizing manner,” he said.
The Cabinet Secretary’s remarks were issued one day after the DFA initiated formal actions.
Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Leo Herrera-Lim confronted Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan directly about the issue, demanding that the derogatory media be pulled down immediately.
Alongside a formal diplomatic protest, the Philippine Embassy in Beijing sent an official letter to China Daily’s editor-in-chief to reiterate the demand for an immediate takedown of the cartoons and videos.
Abalos reiterated that regardless of geopolitical rifts, international ties must be rooted in mutual courtesy.
”Respect among nations begins with respect for one another’s humanity,” he said.
The diplomatic row erupted after a July 10 video by China Daily depicted a monkey outfitted in a barong Tagalog and salakot to ridicule the 2016 arbitration victory, which nullified Beijing’s expansive maritime claims in the West Philippine Sea.
The media material has sparked intense backlash from various Philippine leaders.
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. slammed it as racist propaganda revealing the “moral and intellectual bankruptcy of China’s propaganda machine,” while Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela, firmly stated that “Filipinos are not monkeys.”
The DFA emphasized that while Manila continues to pursue diplomatic talks with Beijing, it “will not hesitate to call out discriminatory and offensive rhetoric wherever it appears.”