Navotas lone district Rep. Toby Tiangco can't help but notice the "disturbing timing" of China Daily's racist attack against Filipinos in the form of an artificial intelligence (AI)-generated video wherein his countrymen were portrayed as monkeys.

Tiangco says the video goes beyond satire or online content, describing it as a deliberate attempt to insult and dehumanize the Filipino people.

"Mariin kong kinokondena ang racist at dehumanizing na propagandang ito. Hindi ito biro at hindi ito simpleng content. Tahasang pag-atake ito sa dignidad ng bawat Pilipino at hindi natin ito dapat palampasin," he said, as he echoed his fellow congressmen's remarks on the issue.

(I strongly condemn this racist and dehumanizing propaganda. This is not a joke and not simple content. This is a direct attack on the dignity of every Filipino and we must not let it pass.)

The Navotas solon said the timing of the video's release made the incident even more disturbing, since t it came as the Philippines commemorated the 10th anniversary of its landmark victory in the 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) case on the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

Beijing has never recognized the July 12, 2016 ruling ,which invalidated its expansive nine-dash line claim over practically the entire WPS.

"Habang ipinapaalala ng buong mundo ang kahalagahan ng international law, pinili nilang gumamit ng paninira at pang-iinsulto. Para sa akin, malinaw na senyales ito na hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin nila matanggap ang naging desisyon ng international tribunal," Tiangco said.

(While the whole world reminds us of the importance of international law, they chose to use slander and insults. For me, this is a clear sign that up to now they still cannot accept the decision of the international tribunal.)

The video from the state-run media outlet is the latest in a series of propaganda and disinformation efforts aimed at undermining the Philippines' sovereign rights in the WPS.

He noted that similar narratives have surfaced in recent years, including claims by some Chinese scholars that parts of Palawan were historically connected to China and, more recently, assertions involving Batanes.

The veteran lawmaker also threw his full support behind the diplomatic protest filed by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of National Defense's (DND) condemnation of the video. He says the Philippines cannot afford to remain silent whenever its people and sovereignty are under attack.

Tiangco stressed that no propaganda campaign could erase the Philippines' legal victory under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

"Hindi mababago ng kasinungalingan ang katotohanan. Hindi mabubura ng propaganda—AI man o hindi—ang ating legal na tagumpay sa ilalim ng UNCLOS, at hindi nito mababawasan ang ating mga karapatan sa [WPS]."

(Lies cannot change the truth. Propaganda—AI or not—cannot erase our legal victory under UNCLOS, and it cannot diminish our rights in the WPS.)

Tiangco urged Filipinos to reject racism and disinformation, and said that defending the country's dignity and sovereignty should transcend political differences.

In a related development, independent think tank Stratbase Institute on Friday commended the nearly 30-nation diplomatic corps that joined the country in marking the 10th anniversary of the Arbitral Award.

In a statement, Stratbase Institute president Victor Andres Manhit said the presence of representatives from 26 foreign missions at its recent Makati forum reflected the international community’s resolve to ensure that the landmark ruling remains relevant amid rising tensions in the WPS.

“By standing firmly with the Philippines, these partners are ensuring that the 2016 Arbitral Award remains a living document that defines the future of a free, open, and stable Indo-Pacific,” he said.

The forum was headlined by ambassadors from Australia, Canada, the European Union, France, Germany, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, who all affirmed their support for the arbitral ruling.

Also present during the forum were the chief of missions of United States (US), Ukraine, Netherlands, Ireland, Israel, Denmark, Czech Republic, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Slovenia, and Austria. The foreign missions of Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore, Italy and Thailand were also represented in the forum.

The event comes as international recognition of the arbitral ruling continues to expand. Data from the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative showed that as of January 2025, 27 governments had publicly called for the award to be respected.

Between November 2022 and October 2024, 18 countries—including France, South Korea, and Norway—strengthened their positions by explicitly recognizing the ruling as legally binding.

Last July 12, EU Foreign Minister Kaja Kallas, on behalf of the 27 EU member states, affirmed that the “2016 Arbitral Award, adopted by the independent and impartial arbitral tribunal in accordance with UNCLOS, was final and legally binding upon the parties to the proceedings".

Other enjoys were equally firm in their recognition of the award’s finality. During the forum, Indian Ambassador Sri Harsh Kumar Jain affirmed that New Delhi considers the 2016 Arbitral Award to be “final and binding” and that it constitutes the basis for peaceful dispute resolution.

South Korean Ambassador Lee Sang-hwa said Korea fully supported the Philippines’ chairship of the 2026 summit, adding that “prosperity flourishes when seas unite rather than divide, when rules prevail over coercion, and when freedom of navigation and overflight are respected in accordance with international law.”