Manila Outraged by Monkey Depiction in Chinese State Media Video

Philippines condemns monkey video on Chinese – The Philippines has issued a strong condemnation of what it describes as a “dehumanising and racist” portrayal in a Chinese media video. The AI-generated clip depicts the Southeast Asian nation as a timid monkey being pushed around by foreign powers while attempting to challenge Beijing’s dominance in the South China Sea. This incident has intensified existing diplomatic tensions between the two nations.

The Controversial Video Content

China Daily, a major Chinese state-owned newspaper, released the animated video last week. The footage shows an anthropomorphic monkey wearing a shirt with Filipino colors. The creature is visibly distressed as arms displaying the flags of Japan and the United States forcefully push it onto a makeshift karaoke platform constructed on a boat. After receiving criticism for performing an incorrect song, the monkey retrieves a document labeled “South China Sea arbitration award.” The scene concludes with the monkey being thrown into the ocean and sprayed by a water cannon.

The video, which was uploaded to China Daily’s Facebook page on July 10, continues to remain accessible at the time of publication. It represents one of several animated clips and cartoons that Chinese media has recently published, all of which mock Philippine actions in the disputed maritime region. Previous depictions have shown Manila portrayed as both a clown and a snake, among other characterizations.

Diplomatic Response from Manila

Philippine officials have been swift in their criticism. The country’s foreign ministry issued a statement declaring that “disagreement over legal and political issues does not justify resorting to disturbing imagery, which has no place in the civil public discourse of a responsible state.” The ministry formally requested that the video be taken down, adding that “such imagery and misinformation only serve to widen the distrust between the Philippines and China.”

“The recent spate of schizophrenic behaviour of the Chinese Communist Party is too clear to disregard or ignore,” defence secretary Gilbert Teodoro stated, characterizing the video as “contemptible propaganda” that “exposes the moral and intellectual bankruptcy of China’s propaganda machine.”

Context of the South China Sea Dispute

The current row occurs against a backdrop of escalating maritime tensions. At the heart of the Manila-Beijing conflict lie the Spratly Islands and Scarborough Shoal, which China refers to as Huangyan Island. These territories sit approximately 100 miles (160 kilometers) from Philippine shores and 500 miles from Chinese territory. The Chinese Coast Guard has increasingly employed high-pressure water cannons against Philippine vessels operating in these waters, resulting in both property damage and physical injuries to crew members.

The timing of the video’s release is particularly significant, as it coincides with the tenth anniversary of a landmark decision by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague. That ruling, issued in July 2016, sided with the Philippines and determined that China’s sweeping territorial claims lacked legal foundation under international law. Beijing has consistently refused to recognize the tribunal’s authority and has ignored the decision entirely.

Recent Escalations and Chinese Media Narrative

Maritime confrontations between the two nations have grown more frequent and occasionally violent in recent years. Both sides have accused each other of provoking incidents, with some altercations involving weapons including swords, spears, and knives. In June, Beijing placed a floating barrier at the entrance to Scarborough Shoal, which was subsequently removed following formal diplomatic protests from Manila.

Also during June, China prohibited Teodoro and his immediate family members from entering mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau. These actions reflect the broader deterioration in bilateral relations.

China Daily’s caption accompanying the monkey video reinforces Beijing’s official position. “Ten years on, the so-called South China Sea arbitration award remains no remedy for peace, but a source of confrontation dressed up as law,” the caption read. It further accused the Philippines of “clinging to external forces and stirring up trouble in the South China Sea,” suggesting Manila is “turning their country into a pawn in someone else’s geopolitical game.”

As of now, Chinese authorities have not provided any response to the Philippine government’s formal rebuke regarding the video.