How a fake news report claimed Philippine fighter jets circled Chinese vessels

A fake news report circulated online in November 2023, claiming that Philippine fighter jets had circled and harassed Chinese vessels in the South China Sea, or the West Philippine Sea as Manila calls it. The report, which was shared on various social media platforms and websites, cited unnamed sources and used fabricated quotes and images to support its claim. The report, however, was debunked by Philippine authorities and experts, who said that no such incident had occurred, and that the report was part of a disinformation campaign to undermine the Philippines’ sovereignty and interests in the disputed waterway.

The Fake News Report

The fake news report, which was titled “Philippine fighter jets circle Chinese vessels in West Philippine Sea”, was first posted on a website called “Philippine News Online” on November 26, 2023. The report claimed that two Philippine FA-50 fighter jets had flown over and around several Chinese vessels, including a naval frigate and a coast guard ship, near Scarborough Shoal, a reef claimed by both countries. The report quoted a supposed Philippine military official, who said that the jets had conducted a “routine patrol” and had sent a “clear message” to China that the Philippines would not tolerate its “illegal presence and activities” in the area. The report also quoted a supposed Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, who denounced the Philippine jets as “provocative and irresponsible”, and warned that China would “take all necessary measures to safeguard its sovereignty and security”.

The report included several images, purportedly showing the Philippine jets and the Chinese vessels, as well as a map of the South China Sea with the locations of the alleged encounter. The report also claimed that the incident had sparked a diplomatic row between the two countries, and that the US and Australia had expressed their support for the Philippines.

The report was widely shared on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and other platforms, where it received thousands of views, likes, comments, and shares. Some netizens praised the Philippine jets for their “bravery and patriotism”, while others criticized China for its “bullying and aggression”. Some also expressed their concern and fear over the possibility of a military conflict between the two countries.

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The Debunking

The fake news report, however, was debunked by Philippine authorities and experts, who said that no such incident had occurred, and that the report was part of a disinformation campaign to undermine the Philippines’ sovereignty and interests in the South China Sea.

The Philippine Department of National Defense (DND) issued a statement on November 27, 2023, denying the report and calling it “baseless and malicious”. The DND said that the Philippine Air Force (PAF) had not conducted any patrol or operation involving FA-50 jets near Scarborough Shoal on November 26, 2023, and that the images used in the report were either old or manipulated. The DND also said that the quotes attributed to the Philippine military official and the Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson were fabricated and false.

The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) also issued a statement on the same day, rejecting the report and calling it “fake and irresponsible”. The DFA said that the report had no basis in fact and that it was intended to sow confusion and discord among the public and the international community. The DFA also said that the report had no effect on the diplomatic relations between the Philippines and China, and that the two countries had maintained regular communication and consultation on the South China Sea issue.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) also issued a statement on November 28, 2023, refuting the report and calling it “unfounded and misleading”. The PCG said that it had not detected or encountered any Chinese vessels near Scarborough Shoal on November 26, 2023, and that the images used in the report were either outdated or irrelevant. The PCG also said that it had been conducting regular patrols and operations in the West Philippine Sea, in coordination with the PAF and the Philippine Navy (PN), to protect the country’s maritime rights and interests.

Several experts and analysts also weighed in on the report, and exposed its flaws and inconsistencies. They pointed out that the images used in the report were either taken from previous news reports or edited from other sources, and that they did not match the date, time, and location of the alleged incident. They also pointed out that the quotes used in the report were either made up or taken out of context, and that they did not reflect the official statements or positions of the Philippine and Chinese governments. They also pointed out that the report had no credible or verifiable sources, and that it was riddled with grammatical and factual errors.

A fake news report claimed that Philippine fighter jets had circled and harassed Chinese vessels in the South China Sea, but it was debunked by Philippine authorities and experts, who said that no such incident had occurred, and that the report was part of a disinformation campaign to undermine the Philippines’ sovereignty and interests in the disputed waterway. The report, which was shared on various social media platforms and websites, cited unnamed sources and used fabricated quotes and images to support its claim. The report, however, was exposed as false and malicious, and had no impact on the diplomatic relations between the Philippines and China, or on the situation in the South China Sea.