THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced on Friday that it has lodged a formal diplomatic protest against China Daily over what it described as “dehumanizing and racist” portrayals of Filipinos in videos and editorial cartoons linked to the 2016 arbitral ruling on the West Philippine Sea.
The protest marks the government’s strongest rebuke yet of content that it says crosses the line from legitimate commentary to outright discrimination and disrespect toward the Filipino people.
The DFA said Undersecretary Leo Herrera‑Lim first raised the matter directly with Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan during a face‑to‑face meeting on July 16, where he conveyed the country’s firm objection and demanded the immediate removal of the materials.
He emphasized that such offensive content runs counter to the mutual respect that should govern relations between nations and does nothing to promote sound, stable ties between the Philippines and China. Following this initial démarche, the department issued a formal diplomatic protest condemning the publications.
Among the controversial materials is a video posted by China Daily on July 10 — just two days before the 10th anniversary of the Permanent Court of Arbitration’s landmark decision upholding the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone claims.
The clip depicts a monkey dressed in traditional Filipino attire including a barong tagalog and salakot, seemingly being instructed by characters representing the United States and Japan. It also shows the figure being sprayed with a water cannon at sea after being presented with the arbitral award.
The DFA stressed that China Daily went beyond acceptable political discourse by resorting to demeaning and racist imagery that insults the dignity of Filipinos. The government’s action underscores its resolve to defend both its territorial rights and the honor of its people while upholding the standards of decency and respect essential to international diplomacy.
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