The Chinese Embassy in the Philippines has released a controversial music video titled “Iisang Dagat (One Sea)” both in Mandarin and Filipino, purportedly depicting the Philippines and China’s partnership to help one another as friendly neighbors across the disputed South China Sea during the pandemic, which prompted a firestorm of negative reactions online.
The music video, which was posted on the China embassy social media accounts on Friday, showcased the assistance the Philippines received from the Chinese government to help the country in its response against the COVID- 19 pandemic.
Majority of netizens wrote scathing comments against the controversial music video. Penned by Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian, the song was performed by Chinese diplomat Xia Wenxin, Camarines Sur Vice Governor Imelda Papin, Filipino-Chinese singer Jhonvid Bangayan and Chinese actor Yubin.
As of 3:00 p.m. Sunday, the video has been viewed by more than 340,586 times on Youtube, where it was posted on April 23, and had already 1,400 likes and 113,000 dislikes.
Some netizens also criticized Papin for her participation in the video.
The release of the music video came after the Philippines fired two diplomatic protests against Beijing for violating international law, as well as the country’s sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea.
Locsin stressed that the Philippines strongly protested a February incident where Chinese warship targeted a Philippine Navy ship and Beijing’s creation of two districts in Hainan province, which have territorial jurisdiction over the Kalayaan Island Group and Scarborough Shoal.
Experts have denounced Beijing for taking advantage of the coronavirus pandemic, which started in Wuhan, China, to aggressively assert its claims in the heavily disputed South China Sea.
The nearly four-minute music video also featured statements from President Rodrigo Duterte and other government officials thanking the Chinese government.
It also showed shots and footage of China delivering various donations to the Philippines.
Besides President Duterte, also featured in the music video were messages of support from Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., Health Secretary Francisco Duque, and Communications Secretary Martin Andanar.
The Chinese Embassy stressed that the song was dedicated to frontliners who played a crucial role in the fight against COVID-19 in both the Philippines and China, including the China Medical Expert Team to the Philippines.
“China and the Philippines have been supporting and helping each other during the challenge of COVID-19 outbreak, demonstrating a new era partnership of mutual support during trying times and the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind advocated by the Chinese President Xi Jinping,” the embassy said.
“Just as the lyric goes, as friendly neighbors across the sea, China and the Philippines will continue to join hands and make every effort to overcome the COVID-19 at the earliest,” the Chinese Embassy said.