A spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines on Tuesday issued a statement on the reported U.S. military's secret psychological warfare of discrediting Chinese vaccines. The following is the full transcript.
Q：On June 14 a Reuters investigation reported that at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic the U.S. military launched a secret psychological operation to counter China's growing influence in the Philippines, using social media accounts to impersonate Filipinos and spread disinformation about the safety and efficacy of vaccines and other life-saving aid supplied by China. It sowed distrust and fear of the Chinese vaccines in the Filipinos, leading the Philippines to have among the worst inoculation rates in Southeast Asia. The difficulty in vaccinating the Filipino population contributed to the worst death rate in the region. By June 2021 almost 24,000 Filipinos had died from the virus. Many people in the Philippines called for the Philippine government and Congress to investigate into this reported secret disinformation campaign targeted against the Filipinos. What is the embassy's comment on this?
A: As a responsible major country, China provided global public goods such as vaccines to other countries during the COVID-19 pandemic. We were the first to provide COVID response supplies and vaccines to the Philippines. China and the Philippines have been mutually supportive and cooperative against the onslaught of the disease, making important contributions to the world's final victory over the pandemic. However, such cooperation was not as smooth as it was supposed to be. Obstruction and sabotage from a third country and certain forces happened all along. Of course such a plot doomed to failure as it went against the interests of the Chinese and Filipino peoples. More and more behind-the-scene stories were told by insiders since the end of the pandemic. The above-mentioned report is one of latest that connects the dots and tells the true picture to the world.
People around the world are indignant about the US military's actions which lay bare the hypocrisy, malign intention and double standards of the United States. While talking about respecting human rights, the United States does just the opposite regarding the fundamental human rights of life and health of the Filipino people. The United States reaffirms the so-called ironclad commitment to its allies all the time, but when it comes to the critical moment of fighting the epidemic together, it is always America First, exploiting the vulnerability of the Filipino people for its ulterior geopolitical motives. By denying access to Chinese assistance, and in defiance of the global public opinion, the United States dares to spread rumors and spin stories on major global public health issues including the vaccine.
A country that loses its credibility would falter just like a deceitful person. We hope that the US will behave the way it claims to be, and stop fabricating and spreading disinformation against other countries. It is expected to shoulder responsibility of a major country, truly respect the effort of other countries in safeguarding people's health, well being and peace and stability of the region.
Q: Reuters also reported that the U.S. military's secret disinformation campaign is continuing around the world. Some commentators pointed out that if the US launched such a secret disinformation campaign to discredit Chinese vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic, it could well have and is running another round to portray China as a “bully" in the South China Sea. What is the embassy's comment on this?
A: We have noticed these comments. People of both China and the Philippines should remain highly vigilant and clear-eyed, resist being taken in by disinformation and inflammatory rhetoric, define their own fate and protect China-Philippines relations as well as peace and stability in the South China Sea.
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