MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines’ state-run People’s Television Network (PTV) will air Chinese TV series, documentaries, cartoons, and movies dubbed in Tagalog, Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua said on Wednesday, June 13.  

Zhao said he considers this project as “‘DreamWorks’ made in China.” 

The ambassador made this announcement on Wednesday, at the inauguration of the China TV Theater on PTV. Philippine Communications Secretary Martin Andanar was one of the addressees of his speech at the New World Hotel Makati.

“From now on, our Filipino friends could, for the first time, watch Chinese TV series, documentaries, cartoons, and movies dubbed in Tagalog on PTV,” Zhao said.

“A new window is opened to millions of people in the Philippines to better understand China, its people, their long history, their rich culture, their daily lives, their endeavor, and their dreams. I would rather name the project that we launch today as ‘DreamWorks’ made in China,” Zhao said. 

Zhao added, “Through the Chinese TV series and movies to be shown on PTV, you could share the stories about how our reform and opening up in the past 40 years have helped realize a steady economic growth of China and better off the well-being of its people.”

‘New era’ in bilateral ties

Zhao pointed out China TV Theater is being launched only a few days after the 43rd anniversary of diplomatic ties between the Philippines and China. Their ties were formally established on June 9, 1975, after then Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos and Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai signed a joint communiqué on this.

Zhao said: “Since President Duterte’s successful state visit to China in October 2016, our bilateral relations have entered into a new era. We are now quickly translating our two leaders’ visions and consensus into ever deepening cooperation in three main areas, namely political and security cooperation, economic and trade cooperation, and last but not least, people-to-people exchanges, which we now call ‘Three Pillars’ of China-Philippines relations.”

This is not the first partnership between Philippine and Chinese state media. In February 2014, the Philippines’ Presidential Communications Operations Office and China Radio International signed an agreement to hold training sessions and to share content.

The launch of China TV Theater comes as the Philippines and China remain embroiled in a dispute over the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea). 

Most recently, GMA News reported that members of the China Coast Guard have taken fish caught by Filipino fishermen in Panatag Shoal (Scarborough Shoal).  

The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs did not publicly issue a diplomatic protest, while Zhao promised that “bad apples” in the China Coast Guard will be “disciplined.” – Rappler.com