**Manila Protests 'Racist' Portrayal of Filipinos in China Daily Videos**
**Published: July 18, 2026**
The Philippine government has formally protested against China over what it describes as a "racist depiction" of Filipinos in a series of videos released by the state-backed newspaper, China Daily. The videos, which controversially portrayed Filipinos as monkeys, have sparked outrage and condemnation from Manila, prompting diplomatic action.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) of the Philippines issued a statement on Friday, asserting that the videos went "beyond political debate" and resorted to "demeaning, dehumanizing, and racist depictions of Filipinos." In response to this incident, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Maria Theresa Lazaro directly raised the issue with the Chinese ambassador to the Philippines. Furthermore, the DFA lodged a formal diplomatic protest condemning the content of the videos.
In addition to the diplomatic protest, the Philippine embassy in Beijing took the initiative to publish an open letter addressed to the editor of China Daily. The letter criticized the publication for its "breach of editorial norms and principles" and urged the outlet to "uphold dignity, respect, and truth" in its public discourse.
China Daily, which claims to be China's most-read English-language newspaper, has a vast audience, boasting over 470 million readers and more than 110 million followers on social media platforms such as Facebook, where the controversial videos were shared.
The videos were released as part of a series commemorating the 10th anniversary of the 2016 South China Sea arbitral award. This significant ruling by an international tribunal overwhelmingly favored the Philippines, declaring that China's extensive claims in the South China Sea lacked legal basis under international law. Despite this ruling, Beijing has consistently rejected it and continues to assert its sovereignty over the majority of the South China Sea, a region rich in natural resources, including an estimated 11 billion barrels of untapped oil and 190 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.
The ongoing territorial dispute primarily involves features such as the Spratly Islands and Scarborough Shoal, both of which are claimed by both China and the Philippines. The South China Sea has been a flashpoint for tensions, leading to numerous confrontations between Chinese coastguard vessels and Philippine ships. These encounters have included collisions and the use of water cannons, actions that Manila claims have endangered its personnel and fishermen.
The Philippines has received diplomatic support from various allies, including the United States, Germany, Japan, and the United Kingdom. These nations have consistently called for respect for the 2016 arbitral ruling and have expressed concern over the escalating tensions in the region. In a joint statement released earlier this month, these countries reaffirmed their backing for the tribunal's "legally binding" and "definitive" findings, warning against "unilateral actions including by force or coercion that threaten peace and stability in the region."
As of the time of publication, neither China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs nor China Daily had publicly responded to the Philippine government's protest regarding the videos. The incident highlights the ongoing complexities of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and China, particularly in light of the long-standing territorial disputes in the South China Sea.