The Philippine government has formally lodged a diplomatic protest against China over a controversial “monkey” video released by a Chinese state-controlled media outlet.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) condemned the video, describing its portrayal of Filipinos as “demeaning, dehumanizing, and racist.”
On July 16, 2026, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Leo Herrera-Lim raised the issue with Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan.
Herrera-Lim urged Chinese authorities to take down the video, saying it is inconsistent with the mutual respect expected between the two countries and does not contribute to maintaining strong bilateral relations.
According to the DFA, the diplomatic protest emphasized that disagreements over legal and political issues do not justify the use of offensive images or representations that have no place in public discourse between nations.
The protest also called for the immediate removal of the video.
The Philippine government warned that content of this nature only deepens tensions between the Philippines and China.
