MANILA, Philippines — A nationalist group on Friday urged Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to bring back to Beijing the Filipino people's demand for a public apology over what it described as a racist artificial intelligence-generated video, while also calling on China to end its aggressive actions in the West Philippine Sea.
Members of the Filipinos Do Not Yield (FDNY) Movement–Alab ng Bayan protested near the venue of the 59th Asean Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM), where Wang was participating in a series of regional diplomatic engagements.
The group said it deliberately held the rally during Wang's visit to deliver the sentiments of Filipinos directly to the Chinese government.
"We want to make it clear that our peaceful action is not intended to provoke but to convey to Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and the Chinese government the legitimate call of the Filipino people," the group said in a statement.
The protesters demanded that China issue a public apology and remove an AI-generated video published by China Daily, which they said contained racist depictions of Filipinos.
"China, we demand a public apology. We are not monkeys," the group said.
The AI-generated video has drawn criticism from several Filipino organizations, which accused the Chinese state-run media outlet of portraying Filipinos in a demeaning and discriminatory manner.
Beyond the AI video, the group condemned China's continued use of force and intimidation in the West Philippine Sea, citing its altercation with the Philippine Navy personnel stationed at Ayungin Shoal, as well as the continued harassment and dangerous maneuvers by Chinese vessels against Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) ships conducting humanitarian and support missions for Filipino fishermen near Bajo de Masinloc, which lies within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone.
The group reiterated its call for Beijing to comply with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos) and the 2016 arbitral ruling that invalidated China's sweeping claims in the South China Sea.
It also urged China to stop all forms of aggression, harassment and intimidation and to respect the Philippines' sovereign rights within its exclusive economic zone in accordance with international law.
Addressing Wang directly, the protesters said his visit to Manila should serve as an opportunity to relay the Filipino people's message to Beijing.
"While you are in the Philippines, listen to the voice of the Filipino people. When you return to Beijing, bring this message: Respect Unclos and the 2016 Arbitral Award, stop harassing Filipinos, and withdraw Chinese vessels that are unlawfully operating inside the Philippines' exclusive economic zone," the group said.
