Filipino Senators Condemn China Daily Video Depicting Filipinos as Monkeys

Multiple Filipino senators have strongly condemned a China Daily AI-generated video that depicted Filipinos as monkeys, with some lawmakers demanding a public apology from Beijing. The video, released by the state-owned media outlet, has intensified tensions between the Philippines and China over the West Philippine Sea. The AI-generated video shows a monkey wearing a barong, a traditional Filipino garment, being directed to sing by arms labeled with Japan and the United States. The monkey is then hit by a water cannon. The Philippines has filed a diplomatic protest and demanded the removal of the video, citing its "demeaning, dehumanizing, and racist" content. Senator Risa Hontiveros called the video "appalling," stating it undermined China’s credibility and cast doubt on its claims of "fostering friendship and mutual respect with the Philippines." She added that the Chinese government owes the Filipino people a public apology, emphasizing that such racist acts violate the most basic standards of respect in international relations. Senator Panfilo Lacson remarked that the post reflected Beijing’s character, questioning what China's own character would be if judged by its actions. Lacson also noted that China's repeated bullying has reinforced the 2016 Arbitral Award, which affirmed Manila’s claims over the West Philippine Sea. He also stressed the need for the Philippines to address corruption to strengthen its economy and defense capabilities. Senators Francis Pangilinan and Juan Miguel Zubiri also condemned the video, with Zubiri stating that "disputes are settled by law, evidence, and diplomacy—not by intimidation, threats, and crude propaganda." Senator Robin Padilla, however, suggested that Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, Jay Tarriela, had initiated the confrontation. Assistant Secretary Arsenio Andolong, spokesperson for the Department of National Defense (DND), stated that 17 countries had explicitly backed the arbitral ruling, while 27 others had called for respect for the verdict. Andolong affirmed that the DND, along with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, would "unceasingly deploy our assets to secure our archipelagic nation." He added that the DND would continue to uphold the international rules-based order and international law by documenting and exposing coercive and aggressive activities in Philippine waters. "We will demonstrate to the world that our actions are rooted in evidence, truth, and international law—not propaganda. This legal victory is an enduring inheritance belonging to every Filipino citizen and the generations of Filipinos yet to come,” he said. Dr. Gary Ador Dionisio, dean of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde School of Diplomacy and Governance, urged the government to present a unified voice on the issue. "Because the insult here is not just directed at our government leaders. The insult here is to the entire Filipino nation," he said. He stressed the importance of government support and condemnation at the highest level, calling for all government instrumentalities to speak with one voice on this concern.