Philippines Condemns ‘Racist’ Videos by China Daily Amid South China Sea Tensions

The diplomatic dispute stems from long-standing territorial conflicts between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea.

The Philippines has formally protested to China over “racist” portrayals of Filipinos in state-linked media content. In a statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs criticized China Daily videos that depicted Filipinos as primates, calling the content “demeaning, dehumanizing, and beyond acceptable political discourse.”

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Maria Theresa Lazaro directly addressed the issue with China’s ambassador, while the department submitted a formal diplomatic complaint. The Philippine embassy in Beijing also issued an open letter to China Daily’s editor, accusing the outlet of violating editorial standards and urging it to uphold “dignity, respect, and truth” in public dialogue.

The videos were released to mark the 10th anniversary of the 2016 South China Sea arbitral ruling, which invalidated China’s territorial claims. Beijing has consistently rejected the decision, maintaining its position over contested areas such as the Spratly Islands and Scarborough Shoal, rich in oil and gas reserves.

The dispute has escalated repeatedly, with Chinese coastguard vessels clashing with Philippine ships through collisions and water cannon attacks, endangering local personnel and fishermen. The Philippines has garnered support from the U.S., Germany, Japan, and the UK, which have jointly reaffirmed backing for the tribunal’s “legally binding” ruling and opposed unilateral actions threatening regional stability.

China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and China Daily did not respond publicly to the protest at the time of reporting.

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