China has dismissed allegations that it is interfering in the Philippines’ 2025 midterm elections, following a public hearing that revealed claims of foreign influence in the country’s democratic process.
In an Inquirer.net report, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun said, “China follows the principle of non-interference in other countries’ domestic affairs. We have no interest in interfering in Philippine elections.”
Guo’s remarks came after National Security Council (NSC) Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya told the Senate’s special committee on maritime and admiralty zones that China appears to be actively involved in operations aimed at swaying the outcome of the upcoming elections.
“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 testified.
Senator Francis Tolentino, who chaired the hearing, pressed further and asked if China is supporting preferred candidates while attempting to undermine others. “So ang ibig sabihin nito may mga ongoing operations ang China para suportahan yung mga kandidatong gusto nilang manalo?… At kontrahin naman yung mga kandidatong ayaw nilang manalo?” Tolentino asked.
“Yes, there are indications of that,” Malaya confirmed.
The hearing also shed light on an alleged troll farm linked to the Chinese embassy in Manila, reportedly operated through a contract with Infinitus Marketing Solutions Inc. The firm is said to be hiring local “keyboard warriors” to target the Philippine government and Filipino personalities critical of China.
“Itong mga ganitong pangyayari hindi ito naiintindihan kaagad ng sambayanan dahil ito’y nakahalo na sa social media hindi mo na alam kung alin dito yung totoo,” Tolentino noted, highlighting the difficulty in detecting coordinated disinformation online.
“That’s correct,” Malaya replied.
The Department of Foreign Affairs has not yet released a statement on the matter.
