The Philippines is deploying a new tactic to counter Chinese propaganda, according to military officials. It’s a 40-page kid’s comic book titled “The Stories of Teacher Jun.” The book is designed to combat Beijing’s alleged disinformation campaign against the Philippines.
A comic book with purpose
During the book’s announcement on Friday, Jan. 24, Filipino military officials said the comic is also meant to educate the public, particularly younger children. The book will teach kids about the country’s complex territorial dispute with Beijing in the South China Sea.
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The comic features colorful art, simple language and it’s completely free to anyone who wants one.
Officials have given out about 11,000 copies so far. Thousands more are expected to be printed.
Individuals can even have the books translated into any language of their choosing through a simple request.
The book portrays China as a “bully” and calls the Chinese military’s behavior in the disputed South China Sea “outrageous.”
Distinguished guests
The comic book launch was held in Manila and was attended by some high-ranking officials, including the Philippines’ national security advisor. While at the event, the advisor said the comic would help the Philippines fight China’s distorted narratives and claims of sovereignty over the South China Sea. That part of the ocean is a key waterway for the nation’s economy.
Ambassadors from the United States and Canada were also in attendance. Both countries have been key allies, given the Philippines’ lack of military might compared to China.
Part of the “Shame Campaign”
This latest effort, through a kid’s book, builds on the country’s ongoing “Shame Campaign,” initiated two years ago. The campaign includes the release of videos and pictures showing Chinese military vessels’ aggressive actions toward Filipino Coast Guard ships.
Officials from the U.S., Japan, Australia and other countries not affiliated with Beijing, condemned the Chinese navy’s actions.
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China responds
China’s embassy in Manila criticized the latest comic book initiative from the Philippines, calling it “political manipulation.”
[RYAN ROBERTSON]
THE PHILIPPINES IS DEPLOYING A NEW TACTIC TO COUNTER CHINESE PROPAGANDA.
A KID’S BOOK.
THIS 40 PAGE COMIC–CALLED “THE STORIES OF TEACHER JUN” IS MEANT TO COMBAT BEIJING’S “DISINFORMATION” CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE PHILIPPINES–THAT EXPLANATION OF COURSE COMING FROM THE PHILIPPINES.
FILIPINO MILITARY OFFICIALS SAY IT’S ALSO TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC, PARTICULARLY, KIDS, ABOUT THE COUNTRY’S COMPLEX TERRITORIAL DISPUTE WITH BEIJING IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA.
IT FEATURES ALL THE STAPLES OF YOUR BASIC COMIC BOOK–LIKE COLORFUL ART AND SIMPLE LANGUAGE.
THEY’RE ALSO FREE…WHICH IS A CLEAR DISTINCTION BETWEEN MOST OTHER ENTRIES IN THE GENRE.
SO FAR, ROUGHLY 11-THOUSAND COPIES OF THE COMICS WERE HANDED OUT AND THOUSANDS MORE ARE EXPECTED TO BE PRINTED.
THEY CAN BE PRINTED IN OTHER LANGUAGES TOO–ALL IT TAKES IS A REQUEST TO THE PUBLISHER.
THE BOOK PORTRAYS CHINA AS A BULLY AND CALLS THE CHINESE MILITARY’S BEHAVIOR IN THE DISPUTED WATER “OUTRAGEOUS.”
THE COMIC BOOK WAS LAUNCHED DURING A CEREMONY IN MANILA WHICH WAS ATTENDED BY SOME HIGH-RANKING OFFICIALS IN THE FILIPINO GOVERNMENT.
INCLUDING THE COUNTRY’S NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR, WHO SAYS THE COMIC WILL HELP THE PHILIPPINES FIGHT CHINA’S DISTORTED NARRATIVES AND CLAIMS OF SOVEREIGNTY OVER THE WATERWAY THAT’S VITAL TO THE NATION’S ECONOMY.
AMBASSADORS FROM THE U-S AND CANADA WERE ALSO IN ATTENDANCE.
BOTH COUNTRIES ARE KEY ALLIES FOR MANILLA-WHO NEEDS THE OUTSIDE HELP IF IT STANDS ANY CHANCE OF STANDING UP TO CHINA MILITARILY.
PUBLISHING THE NEW COMIC IS THE LATEST FILIPINO EFFORT TO BUILD ON THE COUNTRY’S ONGOING “SHAME CAMPAIGN” .
STARTED TWO YEARS AGO, IT INCLUDES THE RELEASE OF VIDEOS AND PICTURES SHOWING THE AGGRESSIVE ACTIONS OF NUMEROUS CHINESE VESSELS TOWARD THE FILIPINO COAST GUARD.
ACTIONS CONDEMNED BY THE U-S, JAPAN, AUSTRALIA, SOUTH KOREA, AND PRETTY MUCH EVERY OTHER INDO-PACIFIC NATION NOT ALIGNED WITH BEIJING.
CHINA’S EMBASSY IN MANILA CRITICIZED THE LATEST COMIC BOOK INITIATIVE FROM THE PHILIPPINES, CALLING IT “POLITICAL MANIPULATION.”
FOR MORE ON THIS STORY– DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP OR VISIT SAN DOT COM.
FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS– I’M RYAN ROBERTSON.
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