FACT CHECK: The Philippines, US didn’t have fight with China over Subic Bay
Claim: The Philippine Navy and US allies engaged in a fight with Chinese forces in Subic Bay amid rising tensions in the South China Sea.
Rating: FALSE
Why we fact-checked this: The YouTube video containing the claim has 988 views and 35 likes.
Rappler has also fact-checked several videos from the TECH-89M, the YouTube channel that posted the video with the claim.
The bottom line: There have been no reports from reputable news or government agencies regarding the supposed fight between the three countries. There have been no announcements from the defense departments of the Philippines, United States, or China to support the claim.
Rising tensions: Tensions between the Philippines and China have been flaring over the past year. Just this week, the Chinese government blamed the Philippines for an attack on the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) ships in Scarborough Shoal. BRP Datu Cabaylo was attacked by a water cannon used by the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG), with the CCG stating that the ship infringed on its territory.
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Subic Bay: In September of this year, the Philippine government announced plans of reopening portions of Subic Naval Base by 2028 to accommodate new warships and increase support for the Philippine Navy amid rising tensions with China.
The Philippines also recently kicked off the eighth iteration of Exercise Sama Sama, two weeks of specialized naval training conducted with participants from Australia, Japan, Canada, France, and the United States. – Katarina Ruflo/Rappler.com
Katarina Ruflo is a graduate of Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program. This fact check was reviewed by a member of Rappler’s research team and a senior editor. Learn more about Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program here.
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