Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. defended the government's transparency initiative in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), saying efforts to discredit it only serve China's interests.

Teodoro issued the statement on Monday, July 20, after some lawmakers questioned the government's transparency campaign following a dispute between Senator Robin Padilla and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson for WPS Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela over an artificial intelligence (AI)-generated video from Chinese state media depicting the Philippines as a monkey to mock its claims in the WPS.

“The transparency initiative is for the best national interest of this country. It has presented the truth about the Philippines' fight in the West Philippine Sea,” Teodoro said in an ambush interview at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.

“The fight in the West Philippine Sea is a public cause. What are we supposed to hide? Every Filipino should embrace the West Philippine Sea,” he added.

The transparency initiative was adopted by the Marcos administration to publicly document and release videos and photos of China's actions in the WPS. It has been led primarily by the PCG and the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea to counter disinformation and false narratives surrounding the disputed waters.

“If you attack the transparency initiative, what will you substitute for it? That we have no rights in the West Philippine Sea? That we cannot decide for ourselves? Attacking the transparency initiative is dangerous because it will benefit only one country, and that is China,” he said.

The defense chief also rejected attempts by certain individuals to justify China's release of the AI-generated video, which drew widespread criticism for portraying the Philippines as a monkey wearing barong and salakot.

“There is no defense for the Chinese government's release of the AI material. As I have said before, it is proof of how they regard the Philippines. It also contradicts their supposed good intentions toward our country. Our countrymen should wake up. There is no defense for this,” he said.

Padilla earlier questioned Tarriela's criticism of the video and compared it with caricatures of Chinese President Xi Jinping circulated by government supporters. Some lawmakers also urged government officials to apologize over caricatures targeting Xi.

But the defense chief said the comparison was misplaced as he also dismissed China's attempts to distance itself from the video.

"In a society like China, where there is no free press, where media is controlled and censored, China cannot wash its hands of this,” Teodoro said.

“We should not fall into the trap of believing they had nothing to do with it.”

The DND head also cautioned local government officials who continue to push for joint exploration projects with China despite the ongoing maritime dispute.

“They should wake up because joint exploration is normally just a way for China to gain access here. Temporary benefits cannot replace the long-term interests of the Philippines,” he said.

Teodoro said the territorial dispute can no longer be ignored because future generations will bear its consequences.

“We have an obligation to confront this now. It can no longer be set aside. That has been proven since 1995 with Mischief Reef. We already know China's intentions. Are we going to bury the issue again? What will happen to the future of this country?” he said, referencing China’s reclamation works in Panganiban or Mischief Reef, a feature located within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ).