Pentagon Admits Anti-Sinovac Campaign in the Philippines

The U.S. Defense Department admitted to spreading propaganda in the Philippines to disparage China's Sinovac vaccine during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a June 25 document. The campaign aimed to undermine Chinese vaccines and aid in 2020-2021. The revelation spurred a Senate investigation in the Philippines.

The U.S. Defense Department has acknowledged disseminating propaganda in the Philippines to tarnish the image of China's Sinovac vaccine during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a June 25 document referenced by former top Philippine government official Harry Roque. The disclosure was initially recounted on a podcast by Roque, who served as spokesman for former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, prompting further investigation by Reuters.

The document confirmed that the Department of Defense targeted Filipino audiences with messages questioning the safety and efficacy of Sinovac. The Pentagon conceded that it had made "missteps" in its COVID-related messaging but assured improved oversight since 2022. This development came in the wake of a June 14 Reuters investigation that exposed the Pentagon's secretive efforts in 2020 and 2021 to discredit Chinese vaccines and other COVID-19 aid items during the height of the pandemic.

The propaganda campaign spurred a Senate investigation in the Philippines led by Senator Imee Marcos, head of the Foreign Relations committee, who condemned the actions as "evil, wicked, dangerous, unethical." The U.S. State Department spokesperson declined to comment further, while Pentagon spokesman Pete Nguyen acknowledged the existence of the problematic social media content.

(With inputs from agencies.)