The Philippines lodged a formal diplomatic protest on 16 July over an AI-generated video published by the state-owned China Daily that portrays Filipinos as a monkey, demanding the immediate removal of the material. The protest was conveyed first in a meeting between Foreign Undersecretary Leo Herrera-Lim and Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan, and later reinforced through a note verbale and a letter from the Philippine embassy in Beijing to the newspaper’s editor-in-chief. As of 17 July, the video remained accessible on China Daily’s Facebook page.

According to the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs, the video and accompanying editorial cartoons constitute “demeaning, dehumanising and racist depictions of Filipinos” that go beyond legitimate political debate. The department stated that such content is inconsistent with mutual respect between states and widens distrust. Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro separately described the video as “contemptible propaganda” that exposes the “moral and intellectual bankruptcy of China’s propaganda machine.” Manila’s objection focused on the use of a monkey character dressed in a traditional barong, which Philippine officials said echoes long-standing racial stereotypes, and on a scene in which the character is blasted by a water cannon — a reference, they argued, to real-life confrontations between Chinese Coast Guard vessels and Philippine boats in the South China Sea.
The Chinese embassy in Manila said it had “noted” the Philippine government’s reaction. The Chinese foreign ministry, in comments carried by Indonesian media, stated that the video did not officially represent the government and offered no further comment. The China Daily post, published on 10 July, includes a caption reiterating Beijing’s position that the 2016 South China Sea arbitration award is “a source of confrontation dressed up as law” and that the Philippines is turning itself into “a pawn in someone else’s geopolitical game.” The video is part of a series of clips and cartoons that have depicted Manila as a clown and a snake, among other characterisations.
The protest unfolded days after the tenth anniversary of the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling that found China’s expansive claims in the South China Sea had no legal basis under international law. Beijing has consistently rejected the ruling and refused to participate in the proceedings. Tensions have escalated in recent years, with the Chinese Coast Guard repeatedly using high-pressure water cannons against Philippine vessels near contested shoals, causing damage and injuries. In June, China barred Defence Secretary Teodoro and his family from entering mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau after he criticised Chinese activities in the disputed waters.
The Philippine foreign ministry said it remains committed to dialogue but will “not hesitate to call out discriminatory and offensive rhetoric.” No further diplomatic steps have been announced, and the video remains online. The episode adds a layer of public diplomacy friction to an already strained bilateral relationship, with no indication from Beijing that the content will be withdrawn.