Digital narratives in the South China Sea dispute: A comparative study of social media discourse in the Philippines and Vietnam

Digital narratives on social media in the Philippines and Vietnam have become pivotal in shaping national identity and public perceptions amid the evolving geopolitical landscape of the South China Sea. Drawing on constructivism, this study analyses Facebook through descriptive statistics, sentiment analysis and topic modelling. The findings show that Philippine discussions frequently reference the 2016 arbitral ruling and display trust in a rules-based order while Vietnamese posts reveal pervasive anger and scepticism towards China's maritime assertiveness, with surprisingly few explicit historical references. Both nations share concerns about sovereignty, geopolitical tensions and foreign interference, yet differ in how these sentiments intersect with policy. Filipinos tend to emphasize diplomatic frameworks and legal avenues, whereas Vietnamese users underscore national resilience amid constraints on public debate. The study demonstrates the transformative role of social media in constructing national identities and influencing security perceptions in the complex geopolitics of the South China Sea.