Revealed: Pentagon Conducted Covert Operation Against Chinese Vaccination Efforts

During the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. military carried out a covert operation to counter China’s influence in the Philippines, a country severely impacted by the virus.

This previously undisclosed operation aimed to undermine confidence in vaccines and aid provided by China, using fake social media accounts to push anti-vaccine narratives. The campaign targeted China’s Sinovac vaccine, spreading misinformation about its safety and efficacy.

At least 300 fake accounts on X, created in the summer of 2020, contributed to this effort. The accounts promoted the slogan #Chinaangvirus, implying China was the source of the virus and its vaccines were not trustworthy.

The propaganda campaign extended beyond Southeast Asia, targeting regions like Central Asia and the Middle East. The Pentagon used false claims about China’s vaccines containing pork gelatin to sow distrust among Muslim populations.

Although the program began under the Trump administration, it continued into Biden’s presidency until it was terminated in mid-2021. The Biden administration issued a directive in spring 2021 to halt the anti-vax campaign after learning about it from social media executives.

While the U.S. military is prohibited from targeting Americans with propaganda, this operation primarily focused on international audiences. Some American public health experts criticized the program for endangering lives and undermining public trust in vaccines.

The campaign had an impact on the Philippines, where low vaccination rates were compounded by public skepticism fueled by the military’s propaganda efforts. Filipinos, especially healthcare workers and officials, expressed shock and outrage upon learning about the covert operation.

The Pentagon’s use of psychological operations against China and other adversaries has a long history, but the anti-vax propaganda campaign during the COVID-19 pandemic raised ethical concerns and led to internal reviews within the military.

Despite criticisms and investigations, the Pentagon’s use of clandestine influence operations is set to continue as part of its strategy to counter adversaries like China and Russia. General Dynamics IT, the primary contractor involved in the anti-vax campaign, received a new contract worth $493 million to provide ongoing clandestine influence services for the military.