A video on YouTube claims that the Philippines, Australia, Japan and the United States (U.S.) have banded together to attack Chinese forces in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). This is not true. Neither of the four countries has made such a pronouncement amid escalating tensions in the region.
Uploaded on May 6, three days after a joint meeting of defense chiefs from the four countries, the video’s headline read:
“CHINA ULTIMATUM NA! LAST WARNING 4 DEFENSE CHIEF! AATAKE SABAY SABAY! MALAKING GULO TO WEST PH SEA
(An ultimatum to China! Last warning four defense chiefs! Will attack altogether. This is a big conflict in the West Philippine Sea)!”
At the beginning of the video, the voice over claimed: “Sanib pwersa na dito ang apat, sabay-sabay na aatake sa West Philippine Sea. Umatake man ngayon ang China sa Pilipinas, hindi na tayo matatakot sa West Philippine Sea. (The four countries have joined forces here and will jointly attack in the West Philippine Sea. Even if China attacks the Philippines, we will no longer be scared in the West Philippine Sea.)
In a joint statement issued on May 3, the Philippines and its three allies renewed their commitment to strengthen maritime cooperation.
There was no declaration of a joint offensive against China but defense chiefs from the four countries slammed China’s aggressive activities in the South China Sea, particularly its “dangerous use of coast guard and maritime militia vessels” and “repeated obstruction of Philippine vessels” in the region.
The joint statement followed a water cannon attack by the Chinese Coast Guard on April 30 that damaged two Philippine vessels en route to Scarborough Shoal. Scarborough, locally known as Panatag Shoal, is part of the Philippines’ 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone that is being claimed by China.
(Related VERA FILES FACT SHEET: Six misconceptions about the Philippines’ arbitral award on the South China Sea)
The four countries also urged China to abide by the 2016 Arbitral Tribunal Award which declared its claim over almost the entire South China Sea as baseless.
Uploaded by YouTube channels Boss Balita TV and BALITA NI JUAN, the video has drawn a total of 21,316 interactions. Facebook users also reposted the link.
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