Philippines Protests Racist China Video

The Philippine government has strongly protested against a video published by China Daily, a Chinese state-owned media outlet, which depicts Filipinos as monkeys. The video, posted on China Daily's Facebook page on July 10, is an animated editorial that centres on Beijing's rejection of the 2016 arbitration ruling that invalidated China's claims in the disputed South China Sea.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) of the Philippines has demanded the immediate removal of the content, calling it offensive and racist. The DFA stated that the protest covers a series of opinion videos and cartoons, particularly the animated video that shows a monkey holding a paper labelled 'South China Sea arbitration Award' while wearing clothing resembling a traditional Philippine shirt.

The video's caption describes the arbitration ruling as not being a remedy for peace, but a source of confrontation dressed up as law. It further claims that Philippine politicians are turning their country into a pawn in someone else's geopolitical game by clinging to external forces and stirring up trouble in the South China Sea.

The Philippine government first conveyed its firm objection to the offensive content to Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan in Manila on Thursday. Philippine Foreign Undersecretary Leo Herrera-Lim demanded that the materials be taken down, stressing that such content is inconsistent with the mutual respect expected between states.

The DFA stated that China Daily went beyond legitimate political debate by resorting to demeaning, dehumanising, and racist depictions of Filipinos. It added that disagreement over legal and political issues does not justify resorting to imagery that has no place in the public discourse of responsible states.

The Philippine Embassy in Beijing also sent a letter to the China Daily editor-in-chief reiterating Manila's demand for the immediate removal of the material. The Philippines initiated arbitration proceedings in 2013 after China seized a shoal west of the country following a tense standoff. China refused to participate in the proceedings and dismissed the 2016 ruling as invalid.

The South China Sea has been a point of contention between the Philippines and China for many years. The Philippines has consistently maintained that the arbitration ruling is binding and that China's claims in the area are invalid. China, on the other hand, has refused to recognize the ruling and has continued to assert its claims in the area.

The latest development has strained relations between the two countries, with the Philippines demanding respect and an end to racist depictions. The incident has also sparked outrage on social media, with many Filipinos expressing their anger and disappointment over the video.

In the context of the ongoing tensions in the South China Sea, the video has been seen as a provocative move by China. The Philippines has called on China to respect the arbitration ruling and to stop its aggressive behaviour in the area.

The incident highlights the need for responsible and respectful communication between nations, even in the face of disagreements. The use of racist and demeaning imagery is not acceptable and can only serve to escalate tensions and undermine efforts to resolve disputes peacefully.

In conclusion, the Philippine government's strong protest against the racist video published by China Daily is a significant development in the ongoing tensions between the two countries. The incident highlights the need for respect and responsible communication between nations and underscores the importance of resolving disputes peacefully.