Calls for sanctions as Philippine probe accuses Chinese embassy of influence campaign
A Philippine Senate probe has accused the Chinese embassy in Manila of funding a covert online influence campaign aimed at discrediting the country's military and critics of Beijing ahead of midterm elections – prompting calls for diplomatic sanctions and potential criminal prosecution.
Advertisement
If the allegations prove to be true, the operation – said to involve hundreds of fake social media accounts – could lead to the expulsion of embassy personnel and legal action under a rarely invoked 84-year-old law targeting subversive acts during peacetime, analysts have warned.
The Chinese embassy and its local partner, Infinitus Marketing Solutions, have strongly denied the accusations. In a Senate hearing on Monday, however, the company's CEO confirmed receiving funds from the embassy, while maintaining there was no connection to a disinformation campaign.
Paul Li, the Chinese national who heads Infinitus, told lawmakers a cheque of 930,000 pesos (US$16,780) from the embassy – presented as evidence they had been hired to operate the disinformation campaign during a previous hearing – was in fact payment for organising a June 2023 event attended by President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr.
Li confirmed 'we are the PR company for the Chinese embassy' during his testimony before the Senate's Special Committee on Philippine Maritime and Admiralty Zones, chaired by Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino.
Advertisement
However, he denied the claims that his firm managed a network of 330 fictitious accounts on Facebook and X allegedly used to manipulate public sentiment.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South China Morning Post
33 minutes ago
- South China Morning Post
Former residence of South Korea's Yoon under lawmakers' scrutiny over ‘pet pool'
A shallow pool inside South Korea 's presidential residence has sparked a debate among lawmakers over whether it was used by former president Yoon Suk-yeol and his wife for their pets. There has been increasing speculation that the pool was used for pets and not humans, said Representative Kim Byoung-joo at a meeting held on Monday by the Democratic Party, which became the country's ruling party following President Lee Jae-myung 's election win last week. 'I've looked around the space inside the official residence of the president, and a pool grabbed my attention,' said Kim, who visited the residence in the centre of Seoul along with other Democratic Party lawmakers on Saturday, according to a report by The Korea Herald. The pool appeared to have a length of five metres long, a width of two metres and a depth of 50cm at the shallow end. 'We should closely examine whether the Yoons installed facilities for personal use with taxpayers' money after moving into the official residence, where no one can monitor how the money is being spent,' Kim said. Protesters rallying against then-South Korean president Yoon Suk-yeol in Seoul last December following his failed martial law attempt. Photo: AP The lawmaker added that Yoon and his wife, Kim Keon-hee, were believed to also have a cat tower worth 5 million won (US$3,680).
South China Morning Post
2 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Civilian group hosts Taiwan tabletop simulation of attack from mainland China
A think tank in Taiwan has started a two-day war game with retired US and Japanese generals to simulate the island's defence in the event of a military attack from the Chinese mainland. The Taipei School of Economics and Political Science Foundation, which organised the tabletop exercise, said the aim was to 'identify the defence issues that Taiwan urgently needs to strengthen and provide recommendations for the government'. Described as the first operational-level military simulation by a civilian institution, the Taiwan Defence TTX event began on Tuesday. Among the invitees were nine retired generals and eight retired lieutenant generals from Taiwan, the US and Japan. They included Michael Mullen, who served as the 17th chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 2007 to 2011, and Dennis Blair, former US director of national intelligence, according to a report on Sunday by the Central News Agency. Takei Tomohisa, a former chief of staff of Japan's Maritime Self-Defence Force, and retired air force general Shigeru Iwasaki are also taking part in the exercise, the agency report said. The intention of the exercise is to discuss 'the feasibility of Taiwan's military strategy and operational concepts' in response to Beijing's use of force against Taiwan by 2030, it said. The foundation has not responded to an interview request from the South China Morning Post.
South China Morning Post
3 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Megaquake scare in Japan, Philippines boosts air power: 7 Asia highlights
We have selected seven stories from the SCMP's coverage of Asia over the past week that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing A string of moderate earthquakes off the coast of Japan's northern island of Hokkaido has reignited concerns among experts and residents about the risk of a catastrophic seismic event – though scientists stress the tremors do not necessarily signal an impending disaster. Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is facing a sexual harassment suit filed by his former aide, Muhammed Yusoff Rawther. Photo: AFP A crisis of credibility hangs over Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim as he prepares to face a sexual harassment suit later this month, the latest in a series of controversies that has rocked his administration and cast doubts over his reformist agenda.
