The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs has formally condemned China Daily for publishing dehumanizing videos and cartoons targeting Filipinos, related to the 2016 South China Sea arbitral ruling.
The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) issued a formal diplomatic protest against China Daily on July 17, 2026, condemning the media outlet for its “dehumanizing and racist” portrayals of Filipinos in videos and editorial cartoons concerning the 2016 arbitral ruling on the South China Sea dispute. The DFA stated that the protest was preceded by a direct objection during a meeting on July 16, 2026, between DFA Undersecretary Leo Herrera-Lim and Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan, in which the Philippines demanded the removal of the offensive materials. The contentious content included a video depicting a monkey dressed in traditional Filipino clothing being instructed by figures resembling Americans and Japanese, and subsequently being water-cannoned at sea following the arbitral award announcement. The DFA emphasized that such content undermines mutual respect and harms bilateral relations between the Philippines and China. It reiterated that the Philippines rejects distortions regarding the arbitral award and maintains lawful positions in the South China Sea dispute, but stressed that political disagreements do not justify racist or demeaning imagery. The Philippine Embassy in Beijing also sent a formal letter to China Daily’s editor-in-chief, underlining that these actions breach principles and norms of responsible state conduct. The case stems from the 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling that invalidated China’s extensive claims marked by the nine-dash line; China has refused to recognize this ruling. The DFA reaffirmed its commitment to dialogue and diplomacy while condemning offensive and discriminatory rhetoric wherever it appears.
Sources referenced:
- https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/995198/ph-issues-diplomatic-protest-over-china-daily-racist-videos-cartoons/story/
