China has accused the United States of conducting a secret disinformation campaign aimed at discrediting Chinese COVID-19 vaccines during the pandemic, labeling the alleged actions as “hypocrisy and malign intention.”
A spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines responded to a recent Reuters investigative report, which claimed that the U.S. military launched a covert psychological operation to counter China’s growing influence in the Philippines at the height of the COVID-19 crisis. According to the report, the operation involved using social media accounts impersonating Filipinos to spread misinformation about the safety and efficacy of Chinese vaccines and aid.
“People around the world are indignant about the U.S. military’s actions, which lay bare the hypocrisy, malign intention, and double standards of the United States,” the spokesperson stated.
Despite the U.S. frequently reaffirming its commitment to its allies, “it is always America first when it comes to the critical moment of fighting the epidemic together,” the spokesperson added, accusing the U.S. of exploiting the vulnerability of the Filipino people for ulterior geopolitical motives.
China was the first country to provide COVID-19 response supplies and vaccines to the Philippines. However, the cooperation faced obstacles. “Obstruction and sabotage from a third country and certain forces happened all along,” the spokesperson noted.
The spokesperson urged the United States to “stop fabricating and spreading disinformation against other countries,” emphasizing that the Reuters report is one of the latest revelations connecting the dots and revealing the true picture to the world.
As the world reflects on the global response to the pandemic, these allegations highlight ongoing tensions between major powers over influence in the Asia-Pacific region.
Neither the U.S. Department of Defense nor the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines has publicly commented on the Reuters report at this time.
Reference(s):
China slams U.S. disinformation campaign against its COVID-19 vaccines
cgtn.com
