AFP slams fake news on PH, Malaysia naval standoff

MANILA, Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) denounced the fake Youtube video falsely depicting a supposed naval standoff between Philippine and Malaysian forces.

A 12-minute YouTube video, with mostly AI-generated footage, depicts a supposed naval standoff between Philippine and Malaysian forces over claims in Sabah and South China Sea.

“This is entirely fabricated—no such incident occurred,” the AFP said in a statement.

READ: China assault on Malaysia sovereignty draws parallels to PH ordeal

“It intends to strain our 60-year diplomatic ties with Malaysia, erode public trust in the AFP, and provoke unnecessary tensions,” it added.

Currently, Malaysia is the chair of Association of Southeast Asian Nations, and the Philippines will assume the chairmanship next year.

Asean Member States and China are currently engaged in negotiations of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea which commenced in March 2018.

Aside from the Philippines and Malaysia, Asean member states such as Brunei, Malaysia, and Vietnam are also claimants of Spratly Islands inside the South China Sea, with China claiming it almost entirely. /cb