The Philippines has strongly condemned an AI-generated video published by China’s state-run China Daily, accusing it of using racist imagery after it portrayed Filipinos as monkeys.
In a statement issued late Thursday, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs described the video as “deeply offensive, distressing and unacceptable”, demanding that it be removed from China Daily’s Facebook page, where it was posted on July 10.
The Chinese Embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The AI-generated video showed a monkey dressed in Filipino clothing being directed by arms representing the United States and Japan on what to sing. After being called “stupid”, the monkey pulled out lyrics referencing the South China Sea arbitration award before being thrown into the sea and blasted with a water cannon from a vessel.
Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro condemned the video as “contemptible propaganda” and said it was “a disgrace to any state that claims to exercise responsible regional leadership.”
He said the video mocked the 2016 international arbitration ruling, which rejected China’s sweeping claims in the South China Sea, and glorified violence against Filipinos.
“This latest act of dehumanisation exposes the moral and intellectual bankruptcy of China’s propaganda machine,” Teodoro said, adding that the Chinese government had resorted to racism and intimidation because it could not defend its territorial claims through reason or international law.
The video was released to coincide with events in the Philippines marking the 10th anniversary of the landmark arbitration ruling. China continues to reject the decision.
The latest dispute comes amid already strained ties between Manila and Beijing over the South China Sea, where the two countries have repeatedly clashed over competing territorial claims. Recent tensions have included confrontations between coast guard vessels, sanctions imposed by China on Teodoro, and a dispute over a floating barrier installed by Beijing near the disputed Scarborough Shoal, which was later removed following Philippine protests.
The Philippine government said it “draws a firm line” against content that dehumanises Filipinos, calling on China Daily to remove the video immediately.
