Congressmen past and present, and from both sides of the political fence have condemned a Chinese media outlet's "racist and dehumanizing" depiction of Filipinos as monkeys.

The House "Young Guns" bloc---which is part of the majority--released on Friday, July 17 a joint statement to denounce the artificial intelligence (AI)-generated video and editorial cartoons published by China Daily, a Chinese state media outlet.

“Dati nang-aangkin lang ng hindi sa kanila — ngayon naman nangungutya na (They used to just claim what was not theirs — now they mock as well)," they said.

“This is not how a responsible regional power behaves. This is the conduct of a bully that has run out of legal arguments and has resorted to bigotry," added the Young Guns.

Signing off on the statement were Deputy Speakers Paolo Ortega V (La Union, 1st district), Jay Khonghun (Zambales, 1st district); and Deputy Majority Leaders Zia Alonto Adiong (Lanao del Sur, 1st district), and Ernix Dionisio (Manila, 1st district).

They said that depicting Filipinos as monkeys was not merely offensive, but a vile, racist attack that exposed the "moral bankruptcy and intellectual desperation of Beijing’s propaganda apparatus".

"This latest incident follows a clear pattern: China first illegally claims vast areas of the South China Sea that belong to the Philippines under international law. When lawfully rebuked, it now resorts to mockery and racist caricature," the group said.

The Philippines recently celebrated the 10th anniversary of its landmark July 12, 2016 arbitral case victory from the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague.

The ruling invalidated China’s sweeping nine-dash line claim over the South China Sea. Beijing has never recognized the decision.

The Young Guns fully support the firm statements issued by the Department of National Defense and the Department of Foreign Affairs. The 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award, rendered under UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea), is a final and legally binding decision that affirmed the Philippines’ sovereign rights and maritime entitlements.

"Fourteen nations have publicly backed this landmark ruling. Not a single country of conscience has endorsed China’s expansive nine-dash line fantasy," they said.

"The Philippines will not be intimidated. We reject this degrading propaganda in its entirety. We demand that China Daily immediately remove the offensive materials and that Beijing halt all future racist content," they added.

Meanwhile, Assistant Minority Leader Akbayan Party-list Rep. Perci Cendan̈a similarly blasted the state-run media outlet for its display of racism.

"It is utterly reprehensible and sickening that the Chinese government has now resorted to using outright racism in attacking our Country's sovereignty and our People's dignity. I join every Filipino in condemning this bare-naked display of bigotry," he said.

Cendaña says it is "deeply troubling that the government of a global superpower is now employing an old and despicable slur against Filipinos".

"We should take note of the fact that the Chinese government has in the past attacked and criticized western imperialism and colonialism. But now it is displaying the same dehumanizing rhetoric and chauvinist behavior characteristic of any imperialist power," he noted.

Cendaña added, "This should dispel any misplaced or naive view among some political quarters that the Chinese government only wishes to deal with us in good faith."

Also strongly condemning China Daily's actions was former three-term Bayan Muna Party-list Rep. Carlos Zarate. He said this racist portrayal of Filipinos was circulated amid discussions on the 2016 Arbitral Award.

"Reducing Filipinos to racist caricatures is a grave insult to our people's dignity and a dangerous provocation that undermines the mutual respect that should exist among nations," Zarate said.

The militant leader said the incident should not be viewed as an isolated act but as part of a familiar pattern of imperialist propaganda that has long been used to justify foreign domination.