The Philippines has not created a version of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization with the United States, Australia and Japan, contrary to a YouTube video’s claim. Neither did the four countries launch an armed attack against China.
The video was uploaded on April 8, a day after the four states conducted joint military exercises in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) with this headline:
“AATAKE NG SABAY SABAY! PBBM NAGULAT ANG CHINA! UNANG PANG GYERA NI PBBM! PILIPINAS GUMAWA NG NATO
(Will attack simultaneously! PBBM surprised China! First war act of PBBM. Philippines created its own NATO)!”
Part of the incorrect video is a montage of flags and leaders of Australia, Japan and the U.S. while an anonymous narrator said: “Iyak ang China sa balitang ito. nagsanib pwersa na kasi dito ang lahat. Gumawa ang Pilipinas meron na din ditong NATO (China cried over this news. Everyone joined forces here. The Philippines now has its NATO here).”
There was no banding together by the four countries to form a military alliance like NATO nor was an armed attack against China launched. They only conducted joint naval and air force drills on the WPS last April 7 amid growing tensions in the disputed area.
In a joint statement, the four nations said that the show of force was to “uphold the right to freedom of navigation and overflight, and respect for maritime rights under international law.”
They also affirmed their support for the Philippines’ 2016 Arbitral Tribunal Award, saying it is a “final and legally binding decision” on the parties to the South China Sea dispute. (Read: Six misconceptions about the Philippines’ arbitral award on the South China Sea)
On the same day, China conducted military combat patrols, also in the South China Sea. In a statement, it took an apparent swipe at the Philippines’ multilateral drill saying “all military activities disrupting the South China Sea situation and creating buzzes are under control.”
Uploaded by YouTube channels Boss Balita TV and BALITA NI JUAN, the video has garnered a total of 56,154 interactions. Facebook users also reposted the links.
VERA Files Fact Check previously fact-checked the same channels for spreading a similar claim in 2023.
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