Diplomatic relations between the Philippines and China have taken another sharp turn following the release of an artificial intelligence-generated video by the Chinese state-run outlet China Daily.
The Philippine Coast Guard has formally condemned the clip, describing it as racist and inflammatory.
The video, which depicted a monkey in a manner widely interpreted as a derogatory reference to Filipinos, has sparked outrage in Manila and intensified scrutiny of Beijing's media strategy in the region.
The incident underscores the deepening rift between the two countries, which has been characterized by frequent maritime confrontations in the South China Sea and increasingly hostile rhetoric.
While the video itself is a digital provocation, it reflects a broader pattern of information warfare and diplomatic posturing that has come to define the bilateral relationship in recent months.
This latest development follows a series of escalating tensions.