U.S. Military's Secret Anti-China Vaccine Campaign Under Trump During COVID-19

Jun 14, 2024, 10:22 AM

During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. military launched a secret propaganda operation aimed at countering China's growing influence in Southeast Asia. The operation sought to discredit China's Sinovac vaccine and other aid, targeting the Filipino public among others. This clandestine effort was reportedly initiated under the Trump administration as a form of payback for Beijing's attempts to blame Washington for the pandemic. Health experts criticized the operation, arguing that it was an indefensible move that put innocent lives at risk. A former senior State official expressed concerns during Zoom calls with the Pentagon, stating that a health crisis was the wrong time for a psychological operation aimed at instilling fear or anger. The report was initially covered by Reuters.