Gen Z TikTok is in ‘A Very Chinese Time,’ But It’s Different for PH Politics

A new verbal spat between Philippine officials and the Chinese Embassy is becoming as hot and sticky as Lao Gan Ma chili oil

By Pie Gonzaga 3 hours ago

If you’re tapped into memes from TikTok, then you know that American Gen Zs are at a “very Chinese time” in their lives right now. This means that they’re putting Lao Gan Ma chili oil in everything, extolling the health benefits of hot water, dabbling in traditional Chinese medicine, or proudly wearing house slippers indoors. But the meme isn’t really taking off in the Philippines, mainly because of the dispute over the West Philippine Sea.

As the US government, under President Donald Trump, continues to crack down on immigrants and be weird on social media (what the hell is the war on protein?), its Gen Z critics are turning eastward. Popular culture has been signaling the West’s renewed fascination with Chinese culture for a while now, from Jiafei memes and Mandarin-speaking cartoon animals to fashion moments like Adidas’ viral Tang-style jacket. The “a very Chinese time” meme just packages it all neatly.

The Philippines, however, is having a very different kind of Chinese time.

On Wednesday, February 4, Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III said that the upper chamber will pass a resolution, penned by Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, condemning statements of the Chinese Embassy against Philippine government officials. Furthermore, the resolution affirms the Philippines’ right to assert and defend its national interests.

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The Senate minority bloc, however, isn’t as keen on passing the resolution, with Sen. Rodante Marcoleta saying he is critical of the Philippines’ claim over part of the South China Sea, and Sen. Imee Marcos asking her fellow lawmakers to practice restraint and diplomacy in addressing the Chinese Embassy.

So far, the hostile back-and-forth between Philippine officials and Chinese diplomats has led the municipality of Kalayaan, Palawan, to declare the Chinese Ambassador to Manila, Jing Quan, persona non grata. The ordinance followed the Chinese Embassy’s recent remarks against Philippine officials, including Philippine Coast Guard Spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela, for speaking on the territorial dispute.

The embassy argued that Tarriela’s AI-generated caricatures of Chinese President Xi Jinping “constitute a serious violation of China’s political dignity and a blatant political provocation, which has crossed the red line.”