Manila said it lodged a formal protest after a China Daily Facebook video showed a monkey in Filipino attire clutching the 2016 South China Sea arbitration award before being hurled into the sea and blasted by water cannon.
The Foreign Affairs Department called the material demeaning, dehumanizing and racist, saying it crossed from political argument into unacceptable imagery; officials raised the objection with Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan and sent a takedown demand to China Daily's editor-in-chief.
China's Foreign Ministry distanced itself from the clip, saying it did not represent the official position, but again rejected the 2016 Hague ruling as illegal, null and void and a political farce.
The dispute lands as the Philippines marks the ruling's July 12 anniversary and as confrontations in the South China Sea keep flaring among Chinese, Philippine and other regional vessels in the strategic trade route.
What is the specific red line that would trigger a direct US military response in the South China Sea?
Is a binding South China Sea code of conduct by year's end a realistic goal or diplomatic fiction?
How can democracies counter China’s AI propaganda without sacrificing their own values?
Racist AI Propaganda and the South China Sea: The July 2026 China Daily Incident and Its Diplomatic Fallout
Overview
In July 2026, China Daily released an AI-generated video depicting Filipinos as monkeys, sparking outrage and condemnation from the Philippine government, which called the content deeply offensive and unacceptable. This incident was seen as a deliberate act of state propaganda, aiming to advance geopolitical narratives amid ongoing tensions over the South China Sea. The controversy highlighted China's persistent rejection of the 2016 arbitration ruling and pushed the Philippines to strengthen international alliances for defense. The use of AI in such provocative content marks a new escalation in information warfare, further straining diplomatic relations and regional stability.