Claim: Social media users have shared a picture of a Taiwanese cargo ship with a false claim the vessel flew the Chinese flag while sailing through the Red Sea to avoid attacks by Houthi rebels. The picture was taken when the ship -- which did not display a Chinese flag -- was near Rotterdam port in July 2019. A spokesperson for the ship's owner Evergreen Marine told AFP the company has rerouted all cargo ships to avoid the Red Sea since December 2023.
Fact-check: Photo does not show Taiwanese ship 'flying Chinese flag in the Red Sea'
Verdict: photo does not show taiwanese ship 'flying chinese flag in the red sea'
Organisation: AFP Fact Check
Author: Carina Cheng
Date published: 2024-09-03T04:41:00