The Armed Forces of the Philippines on Tuesday, August 12, debunked a YouTube video falsely claiming that there was a naval standoff between Philippine and Malaysian forces.
In a Facebook post, the AFP stressed that no such incident occurred.
“This is entirely fabricated—no such incident occurred. It intends to strain our 60-year diplomatic ties with Malaysia, erode public trust in the AFP, and provoke unnecessary tensions,” it said.
The video in question was posted by a YouTube channel called INFO SPARK HUB that describes itself as a page that posts “well-researched content across a a wide range of topics — from trending world events, science breakthroughs, and tech innovations, to fascinating facts, educational deep-dives, and smart life hacks.”
It also claims to post global news analysis and current affair breakdowns. The channel currently has over 2,900 subscribers and 114 videos, with some containing artificial intelligence-generated thumbnails.
The fabricated video, on the other hand, was titled “Philippines vs. Malaysia: Tensions Rise Over Sabah and the South China Sea,” and has so far garnered over 900 views.
“Tensions between the Philippines and Malaysia are making headlines once again, with renewed disputes over Sabah and overlapping claims in the South China Sea. From historical sovereignty issues to modern-day maritime boundaries, both nations are navigating a complex geopolitical landscape that could shape Southeast Asia’s future security environment,” the description of the fake video reads.
“This video explores the roots of the Sabah dispute, tracing it back to colonial-era agreements, the Sultanate of Sulu’s historical claims, and Malaysia’s administration of the territory. We’ll also examine the South China Sea’s strategic importance, where overlapping Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) have heightened competition over resources, trade routes, and military presence,” it added.
The channel’s fake video description stated that “the content was created with the assistance of artificial intelligence combined with human research, analysis, and editorial oversight to ensure accuracy, depth, and clarity.”
YouTube also tagged the video as “altered or synthetic content.”
The video was flagged as disinformation by the AFP.
The military warned that this poses a serious threat to the peace and stability of the nations.
“Such disinformation threatens peace and stability in the region, serving only political or strategic agendas. The AFP stands firm in its commitment to transparency, truth, and the protection of our national interests,” the AFP said.
“The truth is our strongest defense,” it concluded.
