How China waged an info war against U.S. interests in the Philippines

Strategic Context:

• The Philippines is a key geopolitical battleground in the Indo-Pacific, especially as tensions escalate over Taiwan and the South China Sea.
• China views the Philippines as a critical node to counter U.S. influence and expand its regional dominance.

China’s Tactics:

• Disinformation Campaigns: Chinese operatives used fake social media accounts to spread anti-U.S. narratives, portraying America as an unreliable partner.
• Amplifying Anti-American Sentiment: Posts targeted U.S. military presence and historical colonial ties, aiming to stir nationalist backlash.
• Undermining U.S. Alliances: China sought to weaken the Philippines’ trust in Washington, especially during the Duterte administration, which leaned toward Beijing.

Digital Battlefield:

• Platforms like Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) were flooded with coordinated posts, memes, and hashtags.
• Some accounts impersonated Filipino citizens to make the propaganda appear grassroots and authentic.

Vaccine Diplomacy Twist:

• While China promoted its Sinovac vaccine as part of its soft power push, the U.S. reportedly launched a counter-campaign (also exposed by Reuters) to discredit Chinese medical aid—ironically using similar covert tactics.

🇵🇭 Domestic Impact:

• The infowar deepened political polarization in the Philippines.
• It complicated Manila’s balancing act between economic ties with China and defense cooperation with the U.S.

(Source – Reuters)

—Agencies