Philippines Condemns China Daily's 'Racist' Video Depicting Filipinos as Monkeys

MANILA — A racist video posted by China Daily, a Chinese state-run publication, has triggered a strong reaction from the Philippines, with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) calling the content 'demeaning, dehumanizing, and racist'.

The video, released on July 10, features an anthropomorphized monkey wearing a traditional Filipino salakot and barong, symbolizing the Philippines. The monkey is then stronghanded by two arms explicitly labelled 'USA' and 'Japan', before being tossed out to sea and hit by water cannons.

The Philippines has consistently rejected false narratives and distortions regarding the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award, which China does not recognize. The Arbitral Tribunal found China responsible for environmental destruction in its rapid island-building efforts, including within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone.

In a statement, the DFA said: 'The Department of Foreign Affairs strongly condemns China Daily's publication of AI-generated videos and editorial cartoons concerning the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award.'

The DFA urged China to uphold dignity, respect, and truth in public discourse. The video has sparked a wave of outrage on social media, with many Filipinos expressing their disgust at the racist depiction.

The video is a clear indication of China's propaganda machine against the Philippines, which has been escalating tensions over the South China Sea. The Philippines has been seeking international support to help resolve the dispute, including seeking a ruling from the International Court of Justice.

China does not recognize the award, which rejected their supposed historical claim of the entire South China Sea, including its 9-dash or 10-dash line. The Arbitral Tribunal also found China responsible for environmental destruction in its rapid island-building efforts.

The DFA had protested China Daily's recent posts before Beijing's ambassador to the Philippines, Jing Quan, and is set to welcome Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi as part of a week-long series of high-level meetings under the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which the Philippines chairs.

Philippine Secretary of Defense Gilberto Teodoro Jr., under sanction by Beijing, said the racist post by China Daily 'is a revealing insight into what the Chinese communist apparatus thinks of the Filipino people'.

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

The recent spate of schizophrenic behavior of the Chinese Communist Party is too clear to disregard or to ignore. This latest act of dehumanization further reveals them as neither a secure and confident actor nor a trustworthy neighbor.

And in a separate statement, Teodoro said the US and Japan were correct in labelling the Philippines as a key strategic partner in the region, adding that 'our alliance remains unshakeable and robust'.

Key Facts:

• China Daily's video was released on July 10, 2026.
• The video features an anthropomorphized monkey wearing a traditional Filipino salakot and barong.
• China does not recognize the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award.
• The Arbitral Tribunal found China responsible for environmental destruction in its rapid island-building efforts.
• The Philippines has been seeking international support to help resolve the dispute.

China Daily's distributor in the US is registered under the Foreign Agents Registration Act, and several Chinese state-run media outlets, including China Daily, were treated as 'foreign missions' in 2020, requiring additional disclosures.

Freedom House noted that the CCP's control over domestic media in China is 'heavy', with state-owned outlets directly under the management of the Central Propaganda Department.

The DFA has protested China Daily's recent posts before Beijing's ambassador to the Philippines, Jing Quan, and will welcome Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi as part of a week-long series of high-level meetings under the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which the Philippines chairs.