The Philippines has condemned an AI‑generated clip from China Daily that shows a monkey wearing a Filipino shirt being shoved onto a karaoke stage by flags of the United States and Japan. The clip, posted on 10 July, depicts the monkey screaming, reading a sheet titled "South China Sea arbitration award," before being flung into the sea and blasted by a water cannon. The Philippines labelled the portrayal "dehumanising and racist."
Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Romualdez called the scene "contemptible propaganda" and demanded its removal from social media. The Defense Secretary, Gilbert Teodoro, urged the public to reject the narrative that portrays Manila as a timid monkey under foreign influence.
Tensions between Manila and Beijing have grown over the Spratly Islands and Scarborough Shoal, only about 100 mi from the Philippines but 500 mi from China. Chinese Coast Guard vessels routinely fire high‑pressure water cannons at Philippine boats in the area, causing damage and injuries.
The dispute reaches a pivotal moment: a decade ago, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled in favour of the Philippines, declaring China’s claims over the South China Sea have no legal basis. Beijing, however, has refused to recognise the ruling, claiming the tribunal lacks jurisdiction.
In June, China erected a floating barrier at Scarborough Shoal, later removed after formal diplomatic protests from Manila. The same month, Chinese authorities barred Defense Secretary Teodoro and his family from entering mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau.
China Daily’s caption to the monkey clip described the decade‑long arbitration award as "a source of confrontation dressed up as law" and suggested the Philippines is being used as a pawn in a larger geopolitical game. The video is part of a series of cartoons and clips that portray Manila as a clown, a snake, and other demeaning symbols.
No official response from Chinese authorities has yet been reported.
