The #ChinaAngVirus disinformation campaign (English: #ChinaIsTheVirus) was a covert Internet anti-vaccination propaganda and disinformation campaign conducted by the United States Department of Defense at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic from the spring of 2020 to the spring of 2021, to dissuade Filipino, Central Asian, and Middle Eastern citizens from receiving Sinovac Biotech's CoronaVac vaccine and from using other Chinese COVID-19 medical supplies.[1] The propaganda campaign used at least 300 fake accounts on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and other social media websites meant to look like local internet users.
A Reuters report published in June 2024 uncovered the operation and interviewed U.S. Department of Defense officials who confirmed the deliberate measures of the propaganda campaign.[2] Reuters said the U.S. campaign was designed to "counter what it perceived as China's growing influence in the Philippines" and was prompted by the "[fear] that China's COVID diplomacy and propaganda could draw other Southeast Asian countries, such as Cambodia and Malaysia, closer to Beijing".[2]
Public reporting of the propaganda campaign prompted lawmakers in the Congress of the Philippines to open an investigation into the harm and damages caused by the disinformation campaign, the culpability of the U.S. military in breaking international law, and possible legal actions against responsible parties.[3]
- ^ Holman, Zoe (1 September 2024). "Seriously? Beware the Chinese vaccine". New Internationalist. No. 551 September-October. New Internationalist Publications Ltd. p. 13.
- ^ a b Bing, Chris; Schechtman, Joel (June 14, 2024). "Pentagon Ran Secret Anti-Vax Campaign to Undermine China during Pandemic". Reuters. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
- ^ Lema, Karen; Bing, Christopher (20 June 2024). "Lawmakers in Philippines push for probe into Pentagon's anti-vax propaganda operation". Reuters. Retrieved 21 June 2024.