MANILA, Philippines — The National Maritime Council (NMC) condemned state-run China Daily’s release of "demeaning" and "racist" videos and editorial cartoons depicting Filipinos as monkeys, saying such content cannot alter the Philippines’ legal rights in the West Philippine Sea.
In a statement, the NMC said the Philippines has consistently pursued diplomacy and dialogue in dealing with maritime disputes, warning that ridicule only makes it more difficult to resolve differences.
"Attempts to substitute reasoned discourse with ridicule neither strengthen legal claims nor clarify issues. Instead, they erode trust, inflame public sentiment, and undermine constructive engagement necessary for achieving peace and stability," the NMC said.
"The Philippines’ position on its maritime rights and entitlements in the West Philippine Sea remains clear, principled, and unwavering," it added.
The council said the Philippines’ maritime entitlements are anchored in the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the final and binding 2016 South China Sea arbitral award.
"These legal realities cannot be altered by propaganda, disinformation, or offensive portrayals," it said.
