By Christopher Bing and Karen Lema
This Billionaire Wants to Rebuild the Philippines
WASHINGTON, July 26 (Reuters) – The U.S. Defense Department has admitted spreading propaganda in the Philippines aimed at discrediting China's Sinovac vaccine during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a June 25 document cited earlier this month by a former senior administration official.
The U.S. response to the Philippines was recounted in a podcast by Harry Roque, who served as a spokesman for former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. Reuters subsequently reviewed the document, which has not been made public by either government. The news agency was able to verify its contents with a source familiar with the U.S. response.
“It is true that the (Department of Defense) sent messages to the Philippine public questioning the safety and efficacy of Sinovac,” the document said, citing information sent from the U.S. Department of Defense to the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs and Department of National Defense. The document also said the Pentagon admitted to “some missteps in our COVID-related messaging” but assured the Philippines that the military “has greatly improved oversight and accountability of information operations” since 2022.
