A doctored image was seen millions of times in social media posts that falsely claimed it showed Chinese citizens living in the Philippines demonstrating to support Manila following a series of escalating clashes with Beijing in the South China Sea. The photo was taken during a counter-protest to a pro-democracy rally in Hong Kong, London, in August 2019.
“These Chinese citizens living in the Philippines protested against China (sic)”, read part of the caption of the altered image posted on Facebook on June 25th.
It showed protesters holding Chinese flags and a sign that appeared to say: “We are Chinese living in the Philippines! The West Philippine Sea is ours! Not in China!”
Manila calls the waters of the South China Sea, immediately west of the archipelago, the West Philippine Sea.
Manila is stuck in a long history territorial line with Beijing over parts of the strategic waterway through which trillions of dollars in trade pass annually.
In July, the two sides agreed to a “tentative agreement” for resupply missions to Philippine 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 clash on June 17, when members of the Chinese coast guard wielding knives, sticks and an ax thwarted an attempt by the Philippine Navy to resupply its troops.
The altered image was also shared on Instagram, Topics, Facebook and in TikTok videos here It is here which has accumulated more than two million views.
“At least some Chinese support us,” one of them wrote in the comments, seeming to believe the image was genuine.
Another said: “Why are you still holding the Chinese flag? You can wave the Philippine flag now.”
But as of July 30, there have been no official reports that Chinese citizens have come together to support the Philippines in the wake of recent tensions in the South China Sea.
Protest in London
A reverse image search on TinEye found the original image Published by Hong Kong-based photo agency SOPA Images on August 17, 2019 (archived link).
The protester held a sign that said: “One nation, one China.”
The photo’s caption, credited to photographer Andres Pantoja, read: “The counter-protester holds a sign that reads: One Nation, One China during the demonstration. Protesters gathered in Trafalgar Square to demand democracy and justice in Hong Kong and called on Parliament of the United Kingdom will legislate sanctions against those responsible for human rights violations in Hong Kong. Counter-protesters gathered near the rally and attempted to break up the protest.”
Below is a screenshot comparison of the changed image (left) and the original image (right):
AFP reported at a time when more than a thousand people participated in the two demonstrations in the British capital.
Photographer Isabel Infantes also captured a photo of the same man holding the sign as shown below:
AFP has repeatedly unmasked misinformation around the South China Sea dispute.
