A doctored picture has been considered hundreds of thousands of instances in social media posts that falsely claimed it exhibits Chinese language nationals residing within the Philippines rallying to assist Manila after a sequence of escalating confrontations with Beijing over the South China Sea. The image was really taken throughout a counter-protest to a Hong Kong pro-democracy rally in London in August 2019.
“These Chinese language residents residing within the Philippines protested towards china’s (sic),” learn a part of the caption to the altered image posted on Fb on June 25.
It confirmed protesters holding up Chinese language flags and a placard that appeared to say:Â “We’re Chinese language residing within the Philippines! The West Philippine Sea is ours! Not in China!”
Manila calls the South China Sea waters to the archipelago’s instant west because the West Philippine Sea.
Manila is locked in a longstanding territorial row with Beijing over components of the strategic waterway via which trillions of {dollars}’ value of commerce passes yearly.
In July, the 2 sides agreed to a “provisional association” for resupply missions to Filipino troops stationed at Second Thomas Shoal, which has been the main target of violent clashes in latest months.
A Filipino sailor misplaced a thumb within the newest June 17 confrontation when Chinese language coast guard members wielding knives, sticks and an axe foiled a Philippine Navy try and resupply its troops.
The altered picture was additionally shared on Instagram, Threads, Fb and on TikTok movies right here and right here that racked up over two million views.
“At the least some Chinese language assist us,” one wrote within the feedback, showing to consider the picture was real.
One other mentioned: “Why are you continue to holding the China flag, you possibly can wave the Philippine flag now.”
However as of July 30, there have been no official experiences that Chinese language nationals rallied to assist the Philippines following latest tensions within the South China Sea.
London protest
A reverse picture search on TinEye discovered the unique image printed by Hong Kong-based photograph company SOPA Pictures on August 17, 2019 (archived hyperlink).
The protester was holding a placard that truly learn: “One Nation, One China.”
The caption to the image, credited to photographer Andres Pantoja, mentioned: “Counter-protester holds a placard that reads, One nation One China in the course of the demonstration. Protesters rallied at Trafalgar Sq. to demand for democracy and justice in Hong Kong and urged to the UK parliament to legislate for sanctions towards these accountable for human rights violations in Hong Kong. Counter-protesters gathered close to the rally and tried to disrupt the protest.”
Beneath is a screenshot comparability of the altered picture (left) and the unique image (proper):
AFP reported on the time that greater than a thousand individuals took half within the two demonstrations within the British capital.
Photographer Isabel Infantes additionally captured a photograph of the identical man holding the placard as proven beneath:
AFP has repeatedly debunked misinformation across the South China Sea dispute.
