News Roundup 11 September 2024
Sep 11, 2024 • 5 min Read
Filipino influencers, troll farms tapped for pro-China narratives — study | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — The Chinese government is recruiting Filipino social media influencers and troll farms to push polished narratives that favor Beijing, according to a recently published study, with as many as 10,000 fake accounts found to be spreading pro-China narratives.
But besides the flood of pro-Chinese content on social media, the Chinese government is also relying on a more covert form of propaganda: local news reports that minimize Beijing’s role in flawed infrastructure projects while shifting blame onto local leaders.
These were the findings of a September 6 report by research group AidData, which examined Beijing’s direct and indirect messaging efforts to cast itself as an attractive economic partner for investments in the Philippines.
For years, China has remained as the Philippines’ top trading partner, but public opinion has turned solidly against the powerful nation amid more frequent maritime clashes between the two countries in the South China Sea. More than three out of every four Filipinos identify China as the greatest threat to the country, according to an OCTA survey conducted in March and released in June.
“China is not engaging in all these media cooperation and development finance [projects] in a vacuum. It’s happening alongside very visible disputes in the South China Sea,” Samantha Custer, director at AidData, said on Wednesday, September 11.
Two-pronged strategy. China’s social media messaging aim to deflect criticism of its actions in the region by portraying such criticism as mere propaganda by the United States, according to the 51-page AidData study.
Amid its efforts to expand its presence on social media platforms, the Chinese government is also trying to promote the narrative that “discussing, let alone debating, the South China Sea could lead to conflict with the [People’s Republic of China], implying that the Philippines is powerless,” according to the study.
“PRC state-run or state-influenced media outlets have accounts on most social media channels to amplify their digital content,” the AidData study said.
Full Story at: Filipino influencers, troll farms tapped for pro-China narratives — study | Philstar.com
20 countries to brainstorm how ‘to talk sense’ into China — Philippine ambassador | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — Representatives of at least 20 nations are set to meet at the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly this month to discuss how they can “talk some sense” into China to keep it from dialing up its aggression in the disputed South China Sea.
Besides the planned summit, the Philippines also plans to build consensus with other Southeast Asian nations affected by China’s expansive claims in the contested waters, said Jose Manuel Romualdez, the Philippine Ambassador to the United States, at a forum with foreign government and military leaders on Tuesday.
“The Philippines has never faced this challenge since World War 2. We’re playing a thin line between trying to use diplomacy and using our armed forces and our alliances to deter China from doing what they’re doing,” Romualdez said.
Manila’s envoy to Washington said the purpose of the proposed summit is to “to see or find ways to talk some sense into [the People’s Republic of China].”
The 79th session of the UN General Assembly opened on Tuesday, September 10, while the high-level general debate will take place September 24.
“The more countries band together and give a message to China that what they’re doing is definitely not on the right side of history, then we have a better than even chance that they will not make that wrong move that we’re all fearing,” he said.
Romualdez said the Philippines is also reaching out to other Southeast Asian claimants like Malaysia, Brunei and Vietnam to “find ways to bond together and approach China that will not include other countries not in the area.”
Full Story at: 20 countries to brainstorm how ‘to talk sense’ into China — Philippine ambassador | Philstar.com
Makabayan’s Castro to Sara: Get your facts straight on impeach claims | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte should “get her facts straight” and not rely on “marites” (Filipino slang for gossiper) sources, according to ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro, as she refuted claims that the Makabayan bloc held meetings with House Speaker Martin Romualdez to discuss an impeachment move against the country’s second highest official.
Earlier Wednesday, Duterte released a video message, saying that Castro herself, reportedly revealed talks about the former’s impeachment in November last year. The Vice President added that Castro is “at the center” of this discussion.
“Unang-una walang katotohanan na kami sa Makabayan bloc ay nakipagpulong kay House Speaker Romualdez para sa impeachment ni VP Duterte,” the lawmaker said reiterating a previous statement from the Makabayan bloc.
(First of all, it is untrue that we in the Makabayan bloc met with House Speaker Romualdez for the impeachment of VP Duterte.)
“Pangalawa, walang pahayag ang Makabayan bloc noong Setyembre 2023 na nagtutulak kami ng impeachment; sa katunayan may pahayag pa nga kami noong Agosto at Nobyembre 2023, na nagsasabi na premature ang usapin sa impeachment,” she added.
(Second, the Makabayan bloc had no statement in September 2023 that we were pushing for impeachment; we even had a statement in August and November 2023, saying that the impeachment matter was premature.)
Instead, Castro said they should focus on pressing matters such as the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) P125 million confidential fund in 2022, citing a statement she issued in August last year.
“VP Duterte should get her facts straight at hindi puro marites ang source,” she said.
Full Story at: Castro to Sara: Get your facts straight on impeach claims (inquirer.net)
Pusit again? Solons say Sara’s claims of House execs backing NPA untrue | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — Accusations from Vice President Sara Duterte that the House of Representatives leadership is working with communist armed group New People’s Army (NPA) are not true, lawmakers said on Wednesday.
In a statement, Kabataan party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel said that it seems Duterte is again employing squid tactics — distracting the public from the issues at hand.
According to Manuel, the House leadership’s support of the counter-insurgency initiatives of Duterte’s father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, would belie this claim.
“Squid tactics na naman! Saan banda yung suporta ng House leadership sa NPA?” Manuel asked.
(Squid tactics again! How could the House leadership support the NPA?)
Full Story at: Solons say Sara’s claims of House execs backing NPA untrue (inquirer.net)
