MANILA: China has brushed off reports that it is interfering with the Philippines’ midterm elections.
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun, in a regular press briefing on Thursday (April 24) evening, was asked to comment on the Philippine government’s pronouncement that it has observed indicators proving that China is, in fact, interfering with the upcoming May 2025 elections.
“China follows the principle of non-interference in other countries’ domestic affairs. We have no interest in interfering in Philippine elections,” Guo simply said.
On Thursday, National Security Council (NSC) Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya (pic) dropped a bombshell at the Senate’s special panel on maritime and admiralty zones’ hearing, saying that China is dipping its toes in the Philippines’ midterm polls.
“There are indications that information operations are being conducted or that Chinese state-sponsored [groups] in the Philippines are actually interfering in the forthcoming elections,” Malaya said during the hearing.
Sen. Francis Tolentino, who was presiding over the hearing as panel head chair, asked if China has ongoing operations to support candidates that they want to win and control candidates whom they do not prefer.
“Yes, there are indications of that,” Malaya answered.
“These kinds of events are not immediately understood by the people because they are so mixed up on social media that you don’t know which one is true,” Tolentino added.
“That’s correct,” Malaya responded.
Tolentino also alleged that China is paying “keyboard warriors” under a contract with a private company called Infinitus Marketing Solutions Inc.
The Department of Foreign Affairs has yet to address the matter. - Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
