Beijing, October 16, 2023 — China has strongly opposed what it describes as a persistent U.S. manipulation of social media to spread disinformation and tarnish the image of other countries. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian expressed these concerns on Monday during a regular press briefing.
Lin’s remarks came in response to a June 14 report by Reuters, which alleged that the Pentagon orchestrated a secret online campaign aimed at discrediting China during the COVID-19 pandemic. The campaign reportedly involved phony internet accounts and social media posts that cast doubt on the safety and efficacy of China’s COVID-19 vaccine, CoronaVac.
According to the report, a senior U.S. military officer involved in the campaign stated, “We didn’t do a good job sharing vaccines with partners, so what was left to us was to throw shade on China’s.”
Spokesperson Lin Jian commented, “The remarks from the senior U.S. military officer reveal the true intentions behind these disinformation campaigns against other countries.” He added that when certain nations aim to suppress others, they often disregard facts and resort to coordinated smear tactics.
Lin emphasized that such approaches are evident not only in the alleged disinformation about Chinese-made vaccines but also in criticisms against initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative and narratives surrounding China’s new energy vehicles. “These practices do not showcase power but rather an obsession with supremacy and hypocrisy,” he stated.
He called on the international community to remain vigilant about such actions and urged the U.S. to “correct its mindset,” fulfill its responsibilities as a major country, and cease propagating disinformation against other nations.
“A big country should behave in a manner befitting its status,” Lin concluded.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
