A doctored image has been viewed millions of times in social media posts that falsely claimed it shows Chinese nationals living in the Philippines rallying to support Manila after a series of escalating confrontations with Beijing over the South China Sea. The picture was actually taken during a counter-protest to a Hong Kong pro-democracy rally in London in August 2019.
“These Chinese citizens living in the Philippines protested against china’s (sic),” read part of the caption to the altered picture posted on Facebook on June 25.
It showed protesters holding up Chinese flags and a placard that appeared to say: “We are Chinese living in the Philippines! The West Philippine Sea is ours! Not in China!”
Manila calls the South China Sea waters to the archipelago’s immediate west as the West Philippine Sea.
Manila is locked in a longstanding territorial row with Beijing over parts of the strategic waterway through which trillions of dollars’ worth of trade passes annually.
In July, the two sides agreed to a “provisional arrangement” for resupply missions to Filipino troops stationed at Second Thomas Shoal, which has been the focus of violent clashes in recent months.
A Filipino sailor lost a thumb in the latest June 17 confrontation when Chinese coast guard members wielding knives, sticks and an axe foiled a Philippine Navy attempt to resupply its troops.
The altered image was also shared on Instagram, Threads, Facebook and on TikTok videos here and here that racked up over two million views.
“At least some Chinese support us,” one wrote in the comments, appearing to believe the image was genuine.
Another said: “Why are you still holding the China flag, you can wave the Philippine flag now.”
But as of July 30, there have been no official reports that Chinese nationals rallied to support the Philippines following recent tensions in the South China Sea.
London protest
A reverse image search on TinEye found the original picture published by Hong Kong-based photo agency SOPA Images on August 17, 2019 (archived link).
The protester was holding a placard that actually read: “One Nation, One China.”
The caption to the picture, credited to photographer Andres Pantoja, said: “Counter-protester holds a placard that reads, One nation One China during the demonstration. Protesters rallied at Trafalgar Square to demand for democracy and justice in Hong Kong and urged to the UK parliament to legislate for sanctions against those responsible for human rights violations in Hong Kong. Counter-protesters gathered near the rally and attempted to disrupt the protest.”
Below is a screenshot comparison of the altered image (left) and the original picture (right):
AFP reported at the time that more than a thousand people took part in the two demonstrations in the British capital.
Photographer Isabel Infantes also captured a photo of the same man holding the placard as shown below:
AFP has repeatedly debunked misinformation around the South China Sea dispute.