Teodoro condemns 'racist' China Daily post depicting Filipinos as monkeys

MANILA, Philippines — Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. condemned a social media post by Chinese state-run outlet China Daily that depicted Filipinos as monkeys, calling it a racist attack that exposes the "moral and intellectual bankruptcy" of China's propaganda.

In a statement posted on the Department of National Defense's official Facebook page, Teodoro said the post offered "a revealing insight into what the Chinese communist apparatus thinks of the Filipino people."

He said the content mocked the Philippines' victory in the 2016 South China Sea arbitral ruling and glorified violence against Filipinos and members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

"This mockery of the lawful 2016 Arbitral Award and the video's glorification of violence against the Filipino people and soldiers expose the moral and intellectual bankruptcy of China's propaganda machine," Teodoro said.

The defense chief described the material as "contemptible propaganda" and said it was unbecoming of a country that presents itself as a responsible regional power.

"It reveals the weakness of a government that resorts to racism, threats, and manufactured hatred because it has utterly failed to defend its ridiculous claims through reason, evidence, or law," he said.

Teodoro said the incident further justified the Philippine government's policy of suspending ministerial-level and Armed Forces of the Philippines defense engagements with the Chinese Communist Party and its agencies.

"We are justified in our policy of no Ministerial or AFP defense engagements or contacts with the CCP or any of its agencies," he said.

He also criticized what he described as the Chinese Communist Party's "schizophrenic behavior," saying the latest incident showed that China is "neither a secure and confident actor nor a trustworthy neighbor."

Teodoro ended his statement by warning Filipinos against being deceived by Chinese propaganda.

"Pilipinas huwag magpalinlang! Ang nalilinlang ay nasisiil," he said.

("Filipinos, do not be deceived! Those who are deceived are oppressed.")

The exchange comes as tensions between Manila and Beijing continue over the West Philippine Sea.

On July 12, the Philippines marked the 10th anniversary of the 2016 Hague arbitral ruling with a joint statement signed by 13 countries, including the United States and Japan, affirming that the award is legally binding. Beijing, which continues to reject the ruling, called the statement a "distortion of the facts" intended to vilify China.