Philippines Protests China Daily Video Showing Filipinos As Monkeys Over Racist Imagery

The Philippines has strongly condemned an AI-generated video released by Chinese state-run media outlet China Daily that depicted Filipinos as monkeys, calling the content “racist,” offensive and unacceptable. The Philippine government demanded the removal of the video, which Manila said promoted dehumanising imagery and propaganda amid ongoing tensions between the two countries over disputes in the South China Sea. The video was posted on China Daily’s Facebook account on July 10, coinciding with events in the Philippines marking the 10th anniversary of a landmark international arbitration ruling that rejected China’s expansive claims in the South China Sea.

The timing of the post drew further criticism from Philippine officials, who viewed the content as a deliberate attack connected to a sensitive issue in bilateral relations. According to reports, the AI-generated video showed a monkey wearing Filipino clothing being controlled by arms representing the United States and Japan, with the character being instructed on what to sing. The monkey was later called “stupid” in the video before pulling out a sheet of lyrics referencing the South China Sea arbitration award. The clip then showed the character being thrown into the sea and hit with water from a vessel’s cannon.

The Philippine government criticised the portrayal, saying the imagery crossed the line into racist and dehumanising content. Officials called on China Daily to immediately remove the video and expressed concern over the use of artificial intelligence to create material that could fuel hostility between nations. The Chinese Embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the controversy. China Daily, a state-backed English-language publication, has not publicly addressed the Philippine government’s demand for the removal of the video.

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The dispute comes amid long-running tensions between Manila and Beijing over competing claims in the South China Sea, a strategically important waterway rich in natural resources and vital for global shipping. In 2016, an international arbitration tribunal in The Hague ruled in favour of the Philippines, stating that China’s broad claims over large areas of the South China Sea had no legal basis under international law. Beijing has rejected the ruling. The 10th anniversary of the arbitration decision was marked by Philippine officials and supporters highlighting the importance of the ruling as a legal victory. China, however, has continued to maintain its territorial claims in the disputed waters, leading to repeated confrontations between Chinese and Philippine vessels in recent years.

The controversy over the AI-generated video has added another layer to already strained relations between the two countries. Manila has repeatedly raised concerns over Chinese actions in disputed maritime areas, while Beijing has accused the Philippines of increasing tensions by strengthening security cooperation with countries such as the United States and Japan. As artificial intelligence-generated content becomes increasingly common in political communication, governments around the world have raised concerns about its potential use for misinformation, propaganda and the spread of offensive material. The Philippines’ response highlights growing sensitivity over how digital platforms and emerging technologies are used in geopolitical disputes.

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