A Facebook page claims that at least 120 countries support China’s assertions on the South China Sea as opposed to the 13 backing those of the Philippines. This is false.
On July 15, an FB page posted graphics of maps of the contested area that the country calls the West Philippine Sea. It carries the ungrammatical caption with several spelling errors:
“Some of the 46 Countries that supports Chinas position claims in South China Sea 🇨🇳
There atleast 120+ Countries backs and suppoets Chinas position claims in SCS .. below are some of just some of 46 countries listed..”
At the end of the list of 46 countries is a separate one of the 13 nations allegedly behind the Philippines. The post wrote:
“🇵🇭 Philippines has only 13 countries backing them 3 of them were axis powers GIJ (🇮🇹🇩🇪🇯🇵)”
These numbers contradict recent records.
The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) reported that as of January last year, 27 nations have demanded respect for the 2016 Arbitral Award that upholds the sovereign rights of the Philippines in the WPS, while another 17 have explicitly shown support for the landmark ruling. These figures have also been amplified in a July 18 statement by Department of National Defense Spokesperson Arsenio Andalong.
The ruling is anchored on the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, stating that the Philippines is entitled to an exclusive economic zone extending to 200 nautical miles from its shoreline.
In contrast, only eight countries, including China, have rejected the ruling.
This is not the first time false figures have circulated regarding international support for the Philippines in the dispute.
In 2016, the Chinese government claimed that more countries supported its position than the actual number, but was unable to provide proof that more than eight countries had publicly backed its stance, according to CSIS.
The disinformation surfaced a day after the 10th anniversary of the arbitral ruling, which China has described as “illegal, null and void.”
The post, published by FB page Thriving Mindanao Islands Progress (created March 21, 2024), has garnered 620 reactions, 511 comments and 51 shares.
