Philippines protests China Daily videos depicting Filipinos as monkeys

The Philippine government and civil society groups staged a protest in Manila yesterday after a series of videos released by the Chinese state‑run media outlet China Daily were found to depict Filipino people in demeaning, monkey‑like caricatures. The videos, which circulated online in late June, were part of a broader campaign that also featured other Asian nationalities in similar dehumanizing imagery. Filipino officials condemned the content as “unacceptable propaganda” that fuels anti‑Filipino sentiment and threatens diplomatic relations.

The protest, organized by the Philippine National Association of Civil Liberties and the Manila Press Club, drew hundreds of demonstrators who marched to the Philippine Embassy in Beijing and to the Philippine Consulate in Hong Kong. Participants called for a formal apology from China and for stronger enforcement of international norms against hate propaganda. The incident comes amid heightened tensions in the South China Sea, where China’s expansive territorial claims have sparked disputes with the Philippines and other claimant states over fishing rights and maritime sovereignty.

In a statement issued after the protest, the Philippine Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged the Chinese government to respect the dignity of all peoples and to refrain from using dehumanizing imagery in its public communications. The ministry also reiterated the Philippines’ commitment to resolving maritime disputes through peaceful dialogue and adherence to international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.