Philippine Lawmakers Call for Investigation into Secret U.S. Military Anti-Vax Propaganda Operation

Lawmakers in the Philippines are calling for an investigation into a clandestine US military propaganda operation that aimed to discredit China's COVID-19 vaccines during the height of the pandemic. The operation, which was revealed in a Reuters investigation last week, has sparked outrage among Filipino lawmakers, who claim it may have put lives at risk.

Philippine Senator Imee Marcos, chair of the Senate's foreign relations committee, and House Representative France Castro have filed resolutions in Congress to initiate a probe into the matter. The resolutions seek to examine the Reuters findings and determine the potential breach of international law by the United States, as well as the possible legal recourse available to the Philippines.

The secret operation, which was run by the Pentagon, aimed to denigrate the Sinovac vaccine and other pandemic aid from China across the developing world. The effort was intended to counter what Washington saw as China's growing geopolitical sway around the globe, including in Southeast Asia. The operation began under former President Donald Trump and ended months after President Joseph Biden took office.

Why it Matters : The investigation into the US military's propaganda operation is crucial because it has far-reaching implications for public health and national sovereignty. The spread of misinformation about vaccines can have devastating consequences, including lower inoculation rates and the spread of disease. Moreover, the operation raises questions about the role of foreign powers in shaping public opinion and influencing national policy.

A senior Defense Department official acknowledged to Reuters that the US military engaged in secret propaganda to disparage China's vaccines, but declined to provide details. The official said that new policies and controls had been put in place, following an internal review in 2021, that would block similar operations in the future.

Senator Marcos told reporters in the Philippines that she was motivated to investigate the matter because she believed it may have put the lives of Filipinos at risk. At the time of the secret US military operation, the primary vaccine option in the Philippines was China's Sinovac inoculation. During the pandemic, the Philippines suffered among the worst COVID infection rates in the region, and officials struggled to persuade its citizens to get vaccinated.

The Reuters investigation was based on interviews with more than two dozen current and former US officials, military contractors, social media analysts, and academic researchers. Reporters also reviewed Facebook, X, and Instagram posts, technical data, and documents about a set of fake social media accounts used by the US military.

Some American public health experts say the propaganda program endangered lives. "I don't think it's defensible," said Daniel Lucey, an infectious disease specialist at Dartmouth's Geisel School of Medicine. "I'm extremely dismayed, disappointed, and disillusioned to hear that the US government would do that."

In a statement to Chinese media, a Sinovac spokeswoman also decried the US military's campaign. "Stigmatizing vaccination will lead to a series of consequences, such as a lower inoculation rate, the outbreak and spread of disease, social panic and insecurity, as well as crises of confidence in science and public health," said Sinovac spokeswoman Yuan Youwei.

Key Takeaways:

• The US military ran a secret propaganda operation to discredit China's COVID-19 vaccines during the pandemic.
• Filipino lawmakers are calling for an investigation into the operation, citing potential risks to public health and national sovereignty.
• The operation was intended to counter China's growing geopolitical influence around the world.
• Some American public health experts say the propaganda program endangered lives.
• The investigation raises questions about the role of foreign powers in shaping public opinion and influencing national policy.