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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Insecure kasi': De Lima claps back at China over media outlet's racist depiction of Pinoys

'Insecure kasi': De Lima claps back at China over media outlet's racist depiction of Pinoys

Published Jul 17, 2026 11:16 am

At A Glance

  • Rep. Leila de Lima condemns China Daily's racist depiction of Filipinos, saying it reflects China's arrogance and insecurity over the West Philippine Sea dispute.
  • She asserts that the imagery exposes China's frustration, as the Philippines refuses to yield on sovereign rights and no longer kowtows as in the previous administration.
  • De Lima emphasizes that propaganda and lies cannot erase the Philippines' legal victory, underscoring that the West Philippine Sea belongs to the country under the Constitution and international law.
Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima, flag of China (Facebook, Unsplash)
Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima, flag of China (Facebook, Unsplash)


Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima says that China Daily's racist depiction of Filipinos reeks of China's "insecurity" toward the Philippines, which refuses to get bullied over the West Philippine Sea (WPS) issue.
"The racist depiction by China Daily, a Chinese state-controlled media outlet, of Filipinos as monkeys at the mercy of the United States and Japan simply shows that China’s arrogance knows no bounds," De Lima said in a post on X Friday, July 17.
"It further reveals how little they think of us and how highly they think of themselves. This is another act that reflects the mindset of an entitled bully," she added.
Delving deeper into the mind of the government of the Asian superpower, De Lima said the monkey imagery "also shows China’s continued insecurity and frustration because our country refuses to yield in upholding our sovereign rights over the [WPS]".
"Unlike during the previous administration, we do not kowtow to their caprices," the House senior deputy minority leader said in not-so-veiled shot at former president Rodrigo Duterte.
"They can spread propaganda, create AI (artificial intelligence)-generated videos, disseminate lies, and invent imaginary lines all they want, but they cannot erase the fact that the WPS is ours under our Constitution and international law," underscored De Lima.
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.
"Sa ginagawa nilang panggigipit, pagbabanta at mga kasinungalingan, sila ang mas nagiging kahiya-hiya at katawa-tawa sa mata ng buong mundo," De Lima said.
(Through their harassment, threats, and lies, they only make themselves more shameful and ridiculous in the eyes of the world.)
She says she doesn't expect Beijing to change its bullying ways, until it gets what it wants.
"Kaya patuloy lang dapat tayong pumalag at manindigan para ipagtanggol ang ating soberanya at pambansang dangal," said De Lima.
(That is why we must continue to resist and stand firm in defending our sovereignty and national dignity.)

Related Tags

China Monkey West Philippine Sea Leila de Lima China Daily Racist Insecurity Insecure
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