Philippines comic book takes battle for South China Sea to children

The Philippines launched a comic book on Friday in its fight against what it called distorted narratives about maritime rights in the disputed South China Sea, a move which drew criticism from China.

The 40-page comic book titled "The Stories of Teacher Jun" follows Teacher Jun and his students as they learn about maritime zones, international laws and the need to safeguard Philippine marine resources.

National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano said the comic book complemented government efforts to expose China's "aggression" in the South China Sea, serving as a tool to educate Filipinos about complex maritime issues and their sovereign rights under international law.

Philippine Coast Guard Chief Ronnie Gavan said he hoped the book would inspire young Filipinos "to protect what is rightfully ours".

The Chinese Embassy in Manila criticised the initiative, describing it as "political manipulation".

One of the six chapters of the comic book highlighted the significance of the landmark 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in favour of the Philippines which invalidated China's sweeping claim of sovereignty over most of the South China Sea.

China rejects the ruling and has doubled down on its efforts to assert its sovereignty claim with an armada of coast guard and fishing militia, hundreds of kilometres off its mainland.

"Chinese officials, along with state-sponsored media and individuals, continue to spread distorted and twisted narratives to malign our efforts and justify their unilateral claims," Ano said.