Philippines Protests AI Video by Chinese State Media Depicting Marcos as Monkey

The Philippines has strongly condemned an artificial intelligence (AI) generated video shared by Chinese state media that depicted President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as a monkey, describing it as offensive, irresponsible and harmful to diplomatic relations between the two countries.

The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the AI generated content was a deliberate act of disinformation and called on Chinese authorities to ensure that state-affiliated media exercise greater responsibility when publishing content capable of inflaming tensions.

The video, which circulated on social media after being posted by a Chinese state media outlet, used AI generated imagery to portray Marcos in a derogatory manner while commenting on the ongoing territorial dispute between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea.

Philippine officials said the video undermines efforts to maintain constructive dialogue between the two countries and urged Beijing to discourage the use of manipulated media for political messaging. The DFA stressed that disagreements over maritime claims should be addressed through diplomacy and international law rather than personal attacks or misinformation.

China has not issued an official response to the Philippines’ protest. However, relations between the two countries have remained strained over competing claims in the South China Sea, where confrontations involving coast guard vessels have become increasingly frequent in recent years.

The incident has also renewed concerns about the growing use of artificial intelligence to create misleading political content. Experts warn that AI-generated videos and images are becoming more sophisticated, making it increasingly difficult for the public to distinguish authentic material from manipulated media.

Analysts say the controversy highlights the broader challenge governments face in combating AI generated disinformation while preserving freedom of expression and preventing the misuse of emerging technologies in international disputes.