Philippine President Marcos bets on a narrative war on TikTok, but can he succeed?

Interaksyon, a news website in the Philippines, leveled accusations against TikTok channel Media Unlocked, on Tuesday, alleging dissemination of "dubious information" about the South China Sea. This accusation follows a similar claim made earlier this month by another Philippine media outlet, which was later identified as being financially supported by the US government.

Media Unlocked has received attention for its series of videos addressing the South China Sea issues, where it offers insights into the relevant legal and historical contexts. It also critiques the Philippine media's portrayal of events in the region, which it argues is often biased and lacks professionalism. On March 12, Interaksyon published an article titled "'False accusations': Pinoys flag TikTok account posting dubious info on West Philippine Sea," where author Jeline Malasig parroted Philippine government talking points and branded Media Unlocked as a "propaganda tool." The article included calls from a Reddit user for mass reporting of the account's videos, although other Reddit users highlighted the irony in such accusations, pointing out the labeling of different perspectives as misinformation.

PressONE.PH, another Philippine media outlet, had previously lodged similar allegations against Media Unlocked. Despite PressONE.PH's claims of independence, it was revealed that the outlet receives financial support from Internews, an American NGO closely linked to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), a body known for its involvement in global disinformation campaigns.

The pattern of media attacks on China-related content on TikTok suggests a broader strategy in global conflicts, where media outlets often align with governmental agendas to suppress dissenting voices.

This push for censorship mirrors broader international trends, notably the US government's ongoing debates over the potential ban on TikTok, reflecting a troubling inclination toward limiting free speech rather than addressing the root causes of geopolitical friction.

Since Ferdinand Marcos Jr. took office in June 2022, the Philippines has pursued a closer alliance with the United States and adopted a more aggressive approach to the South China Sea issues. This strategy has included deploying military vessels and teams of media professionals to areas surrounding China's Ren'ai Reef and Huangyan Island, with the apparent goal of provoking incidents and amplifying tensions through sensationalized coverage. Additionally, the Philippines has signaled its intention to construct a permanent facility on Ren'ai Reef, where a Philippine warship was intentionally grounded in 1999. Defying the commitments made by previous administrations, President Marcos has declined to remove this warship.

The aggressive posture adopted by the Philippine government, amplified by nationalist media narratives, has significantly heightened regional discord.