Philippines condemns Chinese state media's 'racist' video depicting Filipinos as monkeys

The Philippines has strongly condemned a "racist" AI-generated video released by state-run China Daily that depicted Filipinos as monkeys. The Philippine foreign ministry called the imagery "offensive, distressing and unacceptable," demanding the video be taken down.

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The Philippines strongly condemned state-run China Daily for releasing an AI-generated video that depicted Filipinos as monkeys, saying the "racist" imagery is "offensive, distressing and unacceptable" and drawing a firm line against dehumanising propaganda.

The video, posted on July 10, showed a monkey dressed in Filipino attire being directed by arms representing the United States and Japan. The monkey then pulled a sheet of lyrics bearing the words "South China Sea arbitration award" before being thrown into the sea and blasted by a vessel's water cannon.

Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro denounced the material as “contemptible propaganda” and “a disgrace to any state that claims to exercise responsible regional leadership." He stated the episode exposed the weakness of a government that resorts to racism and manufactured hatred because it failed to defend its claims through reason, evidence, or law.

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contemptible propaganda

"This mockery of the lawful 2016 Arbitral Award and the video's glorification of violence against the Filipino people and soldiers exposes the moral and intellectual bankruptcy of China's propaganda machine," Teodoro said. He added that the "schizophrenic behaviour of the Chinese Communist Party" and this act of dehumanization reveal China as neither a secure, confident actor nor a trustworthy neighbor.

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a disgrace to any state that claims to exercise responsible regional leadership

The sharp rebuke comes amid already strained relations between the Philippines and China, fueled by ongoing tensions in the South China Sea. These include repeated sea confrontations, aggressive maneuvers by Chinese vessels, sanctions imposed on Teodoro, and a recently removed floating barrier at Scarborough Shoal.

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This mockery of the lawful 2016 Arbitral Award and the video's glorification of violence against the Filipino people and soldiers exposes the moral and intellectual bankruptcy of China's propaganda machine.