Philippines Condemns Dehumanising Chinese AI Video Depicting Filipinos as Monkey
The Philippines sharply rebuked a China Daily post that turned its citizens into a monkey during a mock karaoke performance. The AI clip placed a monkey in a Filipino shirt, forcing it onto a rickety stage while US and Japanese flags floated overhead. After the monkey tried singing the wrong tune, it held a sheet titled "South China Sea arbitration award" and was flung into the sea by a water cannon.
Foreign Minister Jose Manuel D. did not mince words, describing the image as "dehumanising and racist." The Manila government demanded immediate removal of the video, warning that such propaganda widens distrust and fuels conflict in disputed waters.
Defence Secretary Gilbert Teodoro added that the clip is "contemptible propaganda" and "exposes the moral and intellectual bankruptcy of China’s propaganda machine." He highlighted the decade-long tribunal ruling that gave the Philippines legal support in the South China Sea.
These tensions have intensified after China erected a floating barrier at Scarborough Shoal and barred the Philippine defence chief from mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau. The South-China Sea dispute remains a flashpoint, involving frequent water-cannon clashes between the Chinese Coast Guard and Philippine vessels.
The AI clip is part of a broader Chinese media push mocking Manila’s actions. It has been joined by depictions of the Philippines as a clown and a snake, highlighting the escalating propaganda war.
As of now, the China Daily Facebook post remains online; Chinese authorities have yet to respond to the Philippine criticism.
