Reuters Uncovers U.S. Military’s Secret Campaign Against China’s COVID-19 Assistance
A recent investigation by Reuters has revealed that the U.S. military conducted a clandestine campaign to undermine China’s COVID-19 vaccines and related aid during the pandemic. The operation targeted the Philippines, a nation severely affected by the virus, casting doubt on the safety and efficacy of China’s life-saving medical supplies.
The investigation found that at least 300 accounts on X (formerly known as Twitter) impersonated Filipino citizens to criticize the quality of face masks, test kits, and China’s Sinovac vaccine—the first to become available in the Philippines. These accounts, almost all created in the summer of 2020, promoted the hashtag #Chinaangvirus, a derogatory term equating China to the virus in Tagalog.
After being alerted by Reuters, X removed the profiles, identifying them as part of a “coordinated bot campaign” based on activity patterns and internal data. This covert operation had not been previously reported.
According to Reuters, the campaign began under former U.S. President Donald Trump and continued into the administration of President Joe Biden. The media outlet interviewed over two dozen current and former U.S. officials, military contractors, social media analysts, and academic researchers. A senior U.S. Defense Department official acknowledged the military’s involvement in secret propaganda efforts to discredit China’s vaccine in developing nations but declined to provide further details.
Motivations Behind the Campaign
For Washington, China’s offers of medical assistance were seen as increasing its influence in developing countries, including the Philippines. While China was distributing vaccines and supplies, the U.S. prioritized its domestic vaccination efforts. As part of “Operation Warp Speed,” the U.S. reportedly compelled developing nations to accept higher prices for vaccines, according to a professor of medicine at Georgetown University who has collaborated with the World Health Organization.
“We didn’t do a good job sharing vaccines with partners,” a senior U.S. military officer involved in the Southeast Asia campaign told Reuters. “So what was left to us was to throw shade on China’s.”
Official Responses
Spokespersons for Trump and Biden did not respond to Reuters’ requests for comment regarding the clandestine program.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry responded on Monday, condemning the U.S. for “spreading disinformation.”
“Such practices by no means show the U.S. ‘power’ and only reveal its obsession with supremacy and hypocrisy. The international community needs to be clear-eyed about this,” said Lin Jian, a spokesperson for the ministry.
Implications for Global Health Cooperation
The revelation of this secret campaign highlights the geopolitical tensions influencing global health initiatives amid the pandemic. Experts suggest that cooperation, rather than competition, is essential for effectively combating global health crises.
Reference(s):
Pentagon ran anti-China vaccine campaign during COVID, finds Reuters
cgtn.com
