A Reuters investigation published on Friday found that 300 accounts now known as “X” were created on Twitter in the summer of 2020 to slam the quality of Chinese-made masks and testing kits, as well as the Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine, the first to be made available in the Philippines.
According to reports, tweets from these accounts often included the hashtag “#Chinaangvirus,” which means “China is a virus” in Tagalog.
“Discrimination in vaccination will lead to a series of consequences, including lower vaccination rates, the outbreak and spread of diseases, social panic and anxiety, and a crisis of trust in science and public health,” Sinovac spokesman Yuan Youwei told Chinese media.
She said Sinovac’s corporate goal is to provide a vaccine that can eradicate the virus and contribute to people’s health.
“Although we have now overcome the new coronavirus, the world is not yet at peace,” Yuan added.
“Sinovac will continue to help people live richer and more fulfilling lives by preventing diseases. We believe that each profession should focus on their own area of expertise. That is the right attitude.”
In December 2021, the Philippines received an additional shipment of Sinovac vaccines donated by the Chinese government to aid in the country’s recovery from the pandemic.
The Pentagon and State Department did not immediately respond to Reuters questions about the investigation.
The U.S. program began under former President Donald Trump’s administration and continued for several months during President Joe Biden’s term, according to Reuters.
Social media executives reportedly warned the Biden administration that the Pentagon was spreading disinformation about COVID-19. According to Reuters, the White House issued an order banning anti-vaccine campaigns in the spring of 2021, and the Pentagon launched an internal investigation.
