The Philippine government has formally lodged a diplomatic protest against China’s state-owned newspaper, China Daily, over an AI-generated video and related editorial cartoons. Authorities in Manila stated that the media content features demeaning and racist depictions of Filipinos, raising serious concerns during a sensitive period for bilateral relations.

The video, published on China Daily's Facebook page, appeared just days before the annual commemoration of the 2016 South China Sea arbitral ruling. According to the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the video crossed the line from legitimate political commentary into highly offensive rhetoric.

Addressing Offensive Imagery

The AI-generated video notably features a monkey character dressed in a traditional Philippine barong, the country's revered national attire. In one sequence, the character is struck by a powerful water cannon. Philippine officials pointed out that this imagery is deeply offensive, as it echoes harmful historical stereotypes while visibly referencing real-life maritime confrontations between Philippine and Chinese vessels.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Leo Herrera-Lim directly raised these concerns during a meeting with Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan. Lim strongly objected to the content and called for its immediate removal from all platforms. "Such content is inconsistent with the mutual respect expected between states and does no favours to the sound and stable management of bilateral relations," the DFA noted in its official statement.

The Philippine Embassy in Beijing has also delivered a formal letter to the editor-in-chief of China Daily, reiterating the demand to remove the video and cartoons. The DFA firmly emphasized that while it remains committed to peaceful dialogue and diplomacy, it will not hesitate to call out discriminatory and disrespectful public rhetoric.

Ongoing Maritime Tensions

This diplomatic protest adds to the continuing regional tensions over contested areas of the South China Sea. Recent months have seen numerous confrontations, with Chinese Coast Guard vessels reportedly using high-pressure water cannons against Philippine boats operating within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone. The Philippine government maintains its lawful position, backed by the 2016 arbitral tribunal ruling, and urges all nations to uphold dignity and truth in their public discourse.

Read more updates on international diplomacy and global relations at The WAU.

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