Pentagon’s Covert Campaign to Discredit Chinese Vaccines A bombshell investigation by Reuters has revealed a “clandestine operation” by the Pentagon aimed at discrediting China’s coronavirus vaccines and treatments. Public health experts and others have condemned the campaign as a cynical ploy that endangered lives for political purposes. Operation Details According to Reuters, the Pentagon’s covert campaign began in spring 2020. It aimed to counter China’s growing influence in the Philippines, which was ravaged by COVID-19. U.S. officials involved used fake internet accounts to impersonate Filipinos and cast doubt on the safety of Chinese vaccines and other life-saving aid. Posts on social media criticized Chinese-made face masks, testing kits, and the Sinovac vaccine, the first available in the Philippines. Reuters identified over 300 accounts on former Twitter that matched descriptions provided by former U.S. military officials familiar with the operation. Almost all of these accounts were created in summer 2020 and promoted the slogan “#Chinaangvirus” (China is the virus). Expert Outrage Experts have expressed shock and outrage over the Pentagon’s operation. Dr. Daniel Lucey, an infectious disease specialist, said he was “extremely stunned, disappointed, and disillusioned” by such a campaign. “I don’t think it’s defensible,” he added. Justin Sandefur, a senior fellow at the Center for Global Development, called the campaign “truly shameful” and lamented that “we were literally willing to let people die to prevent China from getting a PR victory.” Targeting Muslims Reuters reported that a key part of the Pentagon’s strategy was to exploit concerns in Central Asia and the Middle East that the Chinese vaccines contained pork gelatin, making them prohibited under Islamic law. The agency said the Pentagon spread fear among Muslims at a time when the virus was killing thousands daily. Pentagon’s Defense While the Pentagon has acknowledged launching a propaganda effort, it has not explicitly admitted to discrediting Chinese vaccines. Printed by Reuters, the Pentagon stated that the U.S. military attacked the efficacy of the Chinese vaccine. WHO’s Verdict In June 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines stated that China’s Sinovac vaccine is safe and effective for individuals aged 18 and over. The WHO’s report highlighted the vaccine’s efficacy against symptomatic infections, severe COVID-19, and hospitalization. State Department Objection Some within the U.S. State Department reportedly objected to the Pentagon’s efforts, arguing that it was unethical to sow fear during a health crisis. However, in 2019, then-Defense Secretary Mark Esper signed a secret order elevating competition with China and Russia to the priority of active combat, allowing commanders to bypass the State Department in conducting psychological operations.
Pentagon’s Covert Anti-Vax Campaign Against China at Height of Pandemic A recently declassified report has revealed that the Pentagon launched a covert anti-vaccine campaign against China during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The campaign involved spreading misinformation and sowing doubt about the safety and effectiveness of Chinese-made vaccines. According to the report, the campaign was part of a broader effort by the Pentagon to discredit China and its handling of the pandemic. The campaign was conducted through a network of social media bots, fake news websites, and targeted advertisements. The report states that the campaign was “really shameful” and that it “undermined public trust in vaccines and made it harder to fight the pandemic.” The report also found that the campaign had a “significant impact” on the global response to the pandemic. The Pentagon has defended the campaign, arguing that it was necessary to protect national security. However, many critics have condemned the campaign as unethical and counterproductive. The report’s findings have raised concerns about the role of the military in public health and the potential for future covert propaganda campaigns.
