(Editorial)
THE recent video released by China Daily, which depicts Filipinos as a monkey dressed in traditional national attire, is not merely poor taste or crude satire—it is a blatant act of racial discrimination and dehumanization.
Historically, such imagery has been used to oppress, degrade, and deny the humanity of entire peoples. For an official state publication to deploy these stereotypes against the Filipino nation is an insult that goes beyond diplomatic disagreement; it assaults the dignity of every Filipino at home and abroad.
What makes this incident even more objectionable is its deliberate timing, appearing just ahead of the 10th anniversary of the 2016 Arbitral Ruling. Instead of addressing the substance of the Philippines’ legal victory through reasoned argument or legal discourse, the outlet chose to mock the Filipino people themselves.
This suggests a refusal to engage on facts and law, preferring instead to resort to slurs and caricature. Such tactics do not invalidate our claims—they only expose a lack of respect and a failure to uphold basic standards of state-to-state conduct.
Diplomatic relations, however tense or contested, must always be grounded in mutual respect. Disagreements over territory or policy are expected between nations, but reducing an entire citizenry to offensive tropes crosses a line that should never be breached.
The formal diplomatic protest filed by the Department of Foreign Affairs is therefore fully justified. It sends a clear message that while we remain open to dialogue, we will never tolerate attempts to diminish who we are as a people.
This moment also calls for national unity. We may differ on approaches to foreign policy, but we stand together when our national honor is attacked. We demand not just the removal of the offensive materials, but a fundamental recognition that the Filipino people deserve respect, regardless of differences in interest or position. We will defend our rights and our dignity, always—with reason, with resolve, and with unity.
metrosundaily
