Camille Naredo

Chinese flags wave with Philippine flags along Roxas Boulevard in Manila on November 19, 2018, ahead of Chinese president Xi Jinping's state visit in the country. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File

Chinese flags wave with Philippine flags along Roxas Boulevard in Manila on November 19, ahead of Chinese president Xi Jinping's state visit in the country. Xi will be visiting the country from November 20 to 21. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Flying the Chinese flag

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/178435184312220181119-chinese-flag-xi-jinping-state-visit-MD-8757.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Chinese flags wave with Philippine flags along Roxas Boulevard in Manila on November 19, 2018, ahead of Chinese president Xi Jinping&#x27;s state visit in the country. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File"/>Chinese flags wave with Philippine flags along Roxas Boulevard in Manila on November 19, 2018, ahead of Chinese president Xi Jinping&#x27;s state visit in the country. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File</div>MANILA -- Philippine officials continue to condemn China Daily&#x27;s depiction of Filipinos in AI-generated videos, with one senator calling for a public apology from the Chinese governmentChina Daily, a Chinese state-run newspaper, published an AI-generated video on July 10 portraying a monkey dressed in a barong Tagalog and salakot while mocking the Philippines and the landmark arbitral ruling.The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has filed a formal protest on the matter.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/17/ph-officials-condemn-chinese-state-media-video-racism-has-no-space-in-society-1316">READ: DFA formally protests China Daily&#x27;s &#x27;racist&#x27; depiction of Filipinos in AI propaganda video</a></div>&quot;We completely and unequivocally reject China&#x27;s racist propaganda. We Filipinos should never be caricatured and stripped of our humanity because of our nationality,&quot; Sen. Risa Hontiveros said in a statement on Saturday. &quot;I likewise condemn the depiction of our advancing of our national interest as colonial subservience,&quot; she added.Hontiveros called the video &quot;appalling and beneath the dignity of any State,&quot; and expressed her support for the DFA&#x27;s demand that the video be taken down.&quot;The Chinese government owes the Filipino people a public apology,&quot; she also said. &quot;Until then, this utterly racist act will stand as a violation of the most basic standards of respect that should govern relations between nations.&quot;Hontiveros also urged Malacañang &quot;to summon the Chinese Ambassador to convey our deep indignation over this dangerous propaganda,&quot; while asking the international community to join in the condemnation.Sen. JV Ejercito also condemned &quot;the strongest terms the racist and irresponsible AI-generated video published by China Daily.&quot;&quot;Unfortunately, it is nothing but a proof of desperation on two levels. While it is deeply offensive, resorting to racism by portraying a monkey dressed in Philippine national attire–a Barong Tagalog and salakot—only reveals their inability to defend their claims based on merits,&quot; he added. &quot;Second, it is what it is: an AI slop— a smear-piece to provoke outrage and spread misinformation instead of encouraging informed discussion. This kind of content only fuels prejudice, distorts facts, and deepens division.&quot;Ejercito called on China to &quot;accept reality and move on,&quot; stressing that the arbitral award is &quot;final and binding.&quot;Meanwhile, Cabinet Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr. also backed the DFA&#x27;s move, adding that he took &quot;deep offense&quot; at the imagery posted by China Daily.&quot;There is no place for racism or the dehumanization of any nation or people, especially in responsible public discourse,&quot; he said. &quot;Respect among nations begins with respect for one another&#x27;s humanity.&quot;According to the DFA, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Leo Herrera-Lim raised the issue directly with Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan during a meeting on July 16, demanding the immediate removal of the offensive material.The Philippine Embassy in Beijing has since sent a formal letter to the Editor-in-Chief of China Daily, reiterating Manila&#x27;s demand for the immediate takedown of the material.<div>-- with a report from Zen Hernandez, ABS-CBN News</div>

Philippine officials continue to condemn China Daily's depiction of Filipinos in AI-generated videos, with one senator calling for a public apology from the Chinese government

Philippine officials continue to condemn China Daily's depiction of Filipinos in AI-generated videos, with one senator calling for a public apology from the Chinese government

More officials condemn China Daily's 'racist' depiction of Pinoys in AI video

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More officials condemn China Daily's 'racist' depiction of Pinoys in AI video

ABS-CBN News

Published July 18, 2026 01:22 PM PHT

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China

China Daily

racism

Department of Foreign Affairs

Jing Quan

Risa Hontiveros

JV Ejercito

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