On Wednesday, July 22, 2026, Philippine Foreign Minister Maria Theresa Lazaro formally protested to Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi about Beijing's recent "violent actions" in the South China Sea. During a bilateral meeting held on the sidelines of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Manila, Lazaro also condemned a "deeply offensive" artificial intelligence-generated video that depicted Filipinos as monkeys. The protest highlights ongoing tensions between the Philippines and China over territorial disputes and diplomatic relations in the region.

Foreign Minister Lazaro described the monkey characterization in the video as "deeply offensive." The meeting took place in Manila, emphasizing the Philippines' stance amid regional diplomatic engagements.

Sources