Q:It is reported that infectious diseases expert Edsel Salvana said that the United States government’s disinformation campaign against China’s anti-Covid vaccine has caused significant damage in the Philippines on so many levels. This led to unnecessary suffering and deaths among those who were hesitant to take the available vaccines as the anti-Sinovac propaganda forced people to wait for the arrival of the American-made alternative. It was disheartening to learn the US, as an ally, would do such a thing at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. According to the US website “Military.com,” the US Marine Corps has published the latest doctrine titled “Deception”—a tactic used to deceive enemy and create disinformation. What is the embassy's comment on this?
A: We took note of the reports. From former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo publicly saying “we lied, we cheated, we stole,” to the recent revelation of Pentagon disinformation campaign against Chinese vaccines during COVID-19 pandemic, and to the latest military doctrine titled “Deception” disclosed by the US military, facts have shown time and again that to advance selfish agenda in the name of justice, to spread disinformation through deceptive propaganda, and to frame and suppress other countries through manipulating public opinion and perception have become the US’ go-to tactics. What the US has been doing is not unknown to the world who is wary against such tactics. Long gone are the days when the US could deceive the world into serving its selfish agenda.
The US is urged to quit those wrongful approaches at once, stop manipulation through lies, and halt smearing and vilifying other countries. The US should give a long-overdue explanation to the international community both for its dissemination of disinformation over the years for selfish reasons, and for the severe damage inflicted by the US “Deception” strategy and anti-Sinovac propaganda on the Philippines.