A Chinese-funded marketing agency in Manila secretly orchestrated a wide-ranging social media influence campaign to weaken Philippine support for its alliance with the United States and promote pro-Beijing sentiment, a Reuters investigation has revealed.
According to internal documents, interviews, and digital forensics reviewed by Reuters, the firm, InfinitUs Marketing Solutions, was contracted and financed by the Chinese Embassy in Manila to run fake social media accounts and amplify anti-U.S. narratives.
The campaign, which began in 2020, sought to sway public opinion in favor of China amid escalating tensions in the South China Sea.
The operation came to light after Philippine lawmakers and cybersecurity researchers linked InfinitUs to hundreds of coordinated online accounts posing as ordinary Filipinos.
These profiles, including one under the name “Vince Dimaano”, frequently praised China, defended its actions at sea, and attacked critics of Beijing’s policies.
One InfinitUs document reviewed by Reuters described a so-called “troll army” that “always supports the advocacies and activities of the Chinese ambassador’s page.”
Another report detailed efforts to discredit the U.S.-Philippine alliance, Western-made COVID-19 vaccines, and Filipino lawmakers critical of Beijing.
Facebook’s parent company Meta confirmed that it had removed several accounts identified by Reuters for violating its authenticity policies.
InfinitUs also created Ni Hao Manila, an online media outlet designed to appear locally run but funded and directed by the Chinese Embassy.
The outlet’s social media pages, with hundreds of thousands of followers, regularly promoted Chinese military strength and criticized Manila’s cooperation with Washington. TikTok later removed fake followers from Ni Hao Manila after being alerted by Reuters.
The company’s activities formed part of a broader information war between China and the United States over influence in the Philippines, a key U.S. ally and strategic neighbor to Taiwan.
The U.S. previously ran its own covert online campaign to discredit Chinese vaccines during the pandemic, while Beijing continues to deny any interference in foreign affairs.
China’s Foreign Ministry dismissed the latest findings, saying allegations of manipulation were “groundless” and had “backfired.” InfinitUs and its owner, Paul Li, did not respond to Reuters’ questions but have previously denied involvement in “illicit digital activity.”
The campaign also involved prominent Filipinos with pro-China leanings. Scholars, writers, and officials, including counterterrorism expert Rommel Banlaoi, were linked to Chinese-backed propaganda efforts and received awards and cash from the Association of Philippines-China Understanding (APCU), an organization tied to Beijing’s Communist Party.
Former Philippine National Security Council official Jonathan Malaya confirmed that authorities were aware of “third-party proxies” spreading Chinese narratives online.
Senator Francis Tolentino, who first raised the issue in a Senate hearing, said Beijing’s ultimate goal was “to make the Philippines compliant.”
Despite China’s efforts, public opinion remains strongly pro-American, with surveys showing majority support for closer U.S.-Philippine security cooperation.
However, analysts warn that Beijing’s long-term influence strategy could still erode trust in Washington and shape future elections.
“The end goal,” Tolentino told Reuters, “is not just about social media. It’s about control, and compliance.”
Source: Reuters
