Reported 7 months ago
Reuters reported that the US military launched a secret operation during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic to combat China's increasing influence in the Philippines, a country severely hit by the deadly virus. The operation aimed to sow doubts about the safety and efficacy of Chinese vaccines and aid by creating fake Filipino social media accounts that criticized the quality of masks, testing kits, and Chinese Sinovac vaccines. The US military's campaign started in spring 2020 and expanded beyond Southeast Asia, ending in mid-2021 under former President Trump's leadership and continued under President Biden, despite warnings from social media executives. The Biden administration issued an order banning anti-vaccine efforts in spring 2021, triggering an internal review at the Pentagon. Filipino health officials expressed shock over the US military's actions, believing they exploited the vulnerable citizens and fueled existing vaccine hesitancy. The investigation results prompted calls for official inquiries and listening to concerned authorities in the Philippines.
Source: YAHOO