Chinese state-backed media outlet China Daily published an AI-generated animated video on its official Facebook page on July 10, 2026, depicting a monkey dressed in traditional Filipino clothing being manipulated by arms bearing US and Japanese flags [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]. The approximately one-minute video portrayed the monkey forced onto a karaoke stage to sing about maritime negotiations between the Philippines and Japan, with lyrics labeled "South China Sea Arbitration Award." It was then catapulted into the sea and sprayed with a water cannon resembling those used by the Chinese coast guard against Philippine vessels [1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 6].
The video was timed just before the 10th anniversary of the 2016 South China Sea arbitration ruling, which sided with the Philippines and invalidated China’s territorial claims in the disputed waters [2, 8, 9, 7]. The portrayal of Filipinos as monkeys sparked immediate outrage in the Philippines. Philippine Coast Guard spokesman Jay Tarriela shared the video on social media on July 16, denouncing it as "blatant racial discrimination" and stating, "Filipinos are not monkeys!" [1, 9, 3, 4, 10, 6].
The Philippine government formally protested the video, demanding its removal and an end to such hateful propaganda [2, 4, 7]. Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro called the video "despicable propaganda" that glorifies violence and exposes the moral bankruptcy of China's propaganda machinery. He said the video "further reveals [China] as neither a secure and confident actor nor a trustworthy neighbour" [2, 4, 7, 5]. The Department of Foreign Affairs said the video "went beyond political debate and resorted to demeaning, dehumanizing, and racist depictions of Filipinos" [8].
China Daily’s Facebook page claims over 110 million followers and a combined audience of more than 470 million readers [2, 8]. Despite multiple requests, the Chinese embassy in Manila has not commented on the video [1, 2, 9, 7, 10, 6].
The incident has intensified diplomatic tensions amid ongoing South China Sea disputes involving confrontations between Chinese coast guard vessels and Philippine ships as well as sanctions on Philippine officials [2, 9, 7, 10]. The Philippine government continues to seek the immediate removal of the video and calls for respect in diplomatic discourse.
The 10th anniversary of the 2016 South China Sea arbitral tribunal ruling was marked on July 12, 2026, two days after the video’s release [2, 8, 9]. Philippine authorities remain vigilant as relations with China stay strained over sovereignty claims and regional security.
