VERA Files
Australia supposedly declaring it will attack China is making the rounds via YouTube video. The footage also claims President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is encouraging other countries to do the same.
Both claims are false. Neither the Australian government nor Marcos made such pronouncements.
Uploaded on Feb. 29 during Marcos’ state visit to Australia, the eight-minute video bore the headline:
“AATAKE SABAY SABAY! AUSTRALIA NAGDEKLARA NA! CHINA PAPALAYASIN NA! CHINESE AMBASSADOR NAPATAAS KAMAY.
(Will attack simultaneously! Australia has already declared! China will be sent away! Chinese ambassador raised hands.”
There has been no announcement from any Australian government official or agency that the country will conduct a military operation against China to drive them out of the West Philippine Sea.
Manila only signed a deal with Canberra to strengthen maritime security and defense cooperation, not to initiate an armed conflict with China.
An anonymous narrator also claimed at the 0:10 mark that Marcos encouraged other nations to attack China during his speech in the Australian parliament:
“Ayon sa pangulo, nananawagan siya sa lahat ng gustong umupak at gusto giyerahin dito ang mga Tsino, na kung gustong sugurin ang China eh magsabi lang sila sa pangulo
(According to the president, he is calling all those who want to attack and wage war against the Chinese here and if they want to strike China, they should just tell him).”
Marcos never made such remarks in his 17-minute speech before the Australian parliament nor in other speeches he delivered during his three-day visit from Feb. 28 to March 1.
Instead, the president cited the need to protect freedom of navigation in the South China Sea through a rules-based international order.
Uploaded by YouTube channels Boss Balita TV, BALITA NI JUAN and WANGBUDISS TV, the video garnered a total of 33,847 interactions. Facebook users also reposted the links.
VERA Files Fact Check previously flagged the same channels for spreading disinformation related to the West Philippine Sea conflict.
Have you seen any dubious claims, photos, memes, or online posts that you want us to verify? Fill out this reader request form or send it to VERA, the truth bot on Viber.
(Editor’s Note: VERA Files has partnered with Facebook to fight the spread of disinformation. Find out more about this partnership and our methodology.)
