Philippine Coast Guard and nationwide safety officers launch comedian books, titled “the Tales of Instructor Jun,” that debate the complicated South China Sea territorial disputes in easy phrases, highlights the Philippine place and criticizes China’s aggressive actions, in Manila, Philippines, Friday Jan. 24, 2025. (AP Photograph/Jim Gomez)
MANILA, Philippines (AP) — The Philippines launched a comic book ebook on Friday to counter what the nation says is China’s disinformation marketing campaign to push its expansive territorial claims within the South China Sea.
The 40-page comedian ebook, titled “The Tales of Instructor Jun,” was unveiled by Philippine officers. It incorporates colourful caricatures of a Filipino instructor and his younger college students discussing the complicated territorial disputes in easy phrases and highlights the Philippine place.
One fictional pupil within the ebook describes China as a bully and one other says Beijing’s “conduct is outrageous.”
“Chinese language officers, together with state-sponsored media and people, proceed to unfold distorted and twisted narratives to malign our efforts and justify their unilateral claims,” nationwide safety adviser Eduardo Ano mentioned in a speech on the ebook launching in Manila.
The Philippines will do every part to “combat misinformation, disinformation and false narratives to place ahead the reality,” Ano instructed reporters.
READ: Rubio to Manalo: China’s actions in South China Sea erode regional peace
The Philippines has confronted a lopsided battle in opposition to the militarily superior China within the disputed waters of the South China Sea, prompting it to strengthen safety alliances with the US and different pleasant states to construct deterrence in opposition to Beijing’s aggressive actions.
Two years in the past, the Philippines adopted a disgrace marketing campaign by releasing movies and pictures of China’s more and more assertive actions within the contested waters, together with using highly effective water cannons and harmful blocking maneuvers, to home and worldwide audiences.
However the territorial spats, significantly between Chinese language and Philippine coast guard forces, have continued.
The ambassadors of the US and Canada, among the many key supporters of the Philippines in confronting China’s more and more assertive actions within the disputed waterway, attended the comedian ebook launch. Officers from the Philippine coast guard and navy, and the training secretary, had been additionally current.
There was no rapid remark from Chinese language officers, however they’ve repeatedly reasserted their claims to nearly your complete waterway and accused the Philippines and different rival claimant states of encroachments.
Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan additionally lay declare to the busy sea passage, a key world commerce route with wealthy fishing grounds and undersea gasoline deposits.
About 11,000 copies of the comedian ebook have been distributed without spending a dime, and 1000’s extra can be printed relying on the provision of economic donations, mentioned Philippine coast guard Commodore Jay Tarriela, one of many proponents of the ebook venture.
The supposed recipients are younger college students and Filipinos in far-flung areas with restricted entry to information sources. Overseas readers who present an curiosity might be supplied with copies of the ebook of their language, officers mentioned.
“This initiative goals to spotlight our maritime rights and entitlements whereas revealing China’s illegal actions, aggressive conduct and bullying techniques,” Ano mentioned. “It’s essential for us to make clear these actions as transparency is a robust device in combating misinformation.”
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