By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — China has denied any government involvement in the viral artificial intelligence (AI)-generated video that depicted Filipinos as monkeys, even as it renewed its rejection of the landmark 2016 arbitral ruling that invalidated Beijing’s expansive claims in the South China Sea.
During a regular press briefing on Friday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said the controversial video circulating online was not an official act of the Chinese government.
“Regarding the video you mentioned, this is not an act of the government. I have no comment on that,” Lin said when asked about the AI-generated content that has drawn widespread condemnation in the Philippines.
Despite distancing Beijing from the video, Lin reaffirmed China’s long-standing position rejecting the 2016 ruling issued by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague.
He maintained that the arbitration proceedings were politically motivated and insisted that the tribunal’s decision was “illegal, null and void,” adding that China does not recognize its legal effect.
The arbitral award, issued in July 2016, ruled that China’s sweeping maritime claims under its so-called “nine-dash line” have no legal basis under international law and upheld the Philippines’ maritime entitlements under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
The Philippine government has consistently invoked the ruling in asserting its sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the West Philippine Sea.
The latest diplomatic row erupted after the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) condemned an AI-generated video and editorial materials posted by Chinese state-run media outlet China Daily, which portrayed Filipinos as monkeys while criticizing the 2016 arbitral award.
The DFA described the content as racist, dehumanizing, and deeply offensive, saying it violated the standards of mutual respect expected between neighboring countries.
Manila has since lodged a formal diplomatic protest, demanding the removal of the materials and calling on Chinese authorities to ensure that state-affiliated media refrain from publishing content that incites discrimination and undermines bilateral relations.
While Beijing has attempted to distance itself from the controversial video, it has once again refused to recognize the international tribunal’s decision, underscoring its continued opposition to a ruling that remains a cornerstone of the Philippines’ legal position in the West Philippine Sea dispute.
ia/xf
