The Philippines said it was outraged by a Chinese media post that turned the country into a monkey in an AI‑generated video. The clip showed a monkey wearing a Filipino shirt, shoved onto a karaoke stage, then flung into the sea by a water‑cannon.
The Manila foreign ministry called the imagery "dehumanising and racist" and demanded its removal, saying such content has no place in civil public discourse. It added that the video widens distrust between Manila and Beijing.
The defence ministry described the clip as "contemptible propaganda" and said it revealed the moral bankruptcy of China’s propaganda machine. Defence secretary Gilbert Teodoro said the recent behaviour of Beijing was obvious and should not be ignored.
The video was posted on 10 July and still appears on China Daily’s Facebook page at the time of writing.
The South China Sea dispute has worsened in recent years, with Chinese coast guard vessels using high‑pressure water cannons against Philippine boats around the Spratly Islands and Scarborough Shoal. The former is a 100‑mile stretch from Manila and 500 miles from Beijing, and is the centre of overlapping claims.
In June, Beijing installed a floating barrier at Scarborough Shoal’s entrance, which was removed after diplomatic protests. Beijing also barred Manila’s defence secretary and his family from entering China, Hong Kong and Macau.
China Daily’s caption to the clip echoed Beijing’s position, claiming the arbitration award was “no remedy for peace” but a source of confrontation. It further accused the Philippines of turning its nation into a pawn in a geopolitical game.
These racist clips are part of a series released in recent weeks that mock Manila’s actions, depicting it as a clown and a snake as well. Chinese authorities have yet to respond to the Philippines’ rebuke.
