Philippine Cabinet Secretary Abalos strongly condemned on Saturday the release of an artificial intelligence (AI) video and edited cartoons involving the Philippines by Chinese state media, stating that the content "carries racist and dehumanizing implications," damaging the dignity of the Filipino people.
Abalos stated that mutual respect between countries begins with respect for each other's humanity. He pointed out that any attempt to belittle the Filipino people through offensive and derogatory images is deeply dissatisfying.
"As a Filipino, I strongly oppose any attempt to demean our people through insulting and disparaging imagery," he said.
He emphasized that racist expressions or any form of dehumanizing a country or ethnicity should have no place in responsible public discourse.
The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs also issued a strong protest, demanding the immediate removal of the "offensive" video and the cessation of publishing such irresponsible content.
According to reports, the video circulated online on July 10, and depicts a monkey dressed in traditional Filipino clothing, controlled by foreign forces, who is eventually thrown into the sea and blasted with a water cannon.
The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs described the video as "extremely offensive, disturbing, and unacceptable," and has expressed the Philippine government's position to the relevant parties.
The controversial video involves topics related to the 2016 South China Sea arbitration ruling, raising the Philippine government's concerns over its impact on the country's image and the dignity of its people.