China dialing back virus conspiracy claims, US says

a couple of people that are talking to each other: Chinese embassy officials help screen incoming passengers for the new coronavirus as they arrive at Entebbe Airport in Uganda on March 3, 2020

China has retreated from spreading conspiracy theories online in the developing world alleging US involvement in the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic after finding limited traction, a US official said.

The State Department's Global Engagement Center, which is in charge of analysing and countering foreign propaganda, said China has shifted to praising its own successes in containing the virus and highlighting its delivery of aid abroad.

"We assess that the PRC official messaging in Africa shows that they may have abandoned that disinformation campaign specifically saying that coronavirus had originated in the US," said Lea Gabrielle, the coordinator of the centre.

"We're also seeing something similar in the Western Hemisphere," she told reporters.

She said that analysis of Chinese government social media postings from March 13-15 showed "mostly negative reactions" in Africa to the conspiracy theory.

Earlier this month a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman, Zhao Lijian, suggested on Twitter that the US military may have brought the new coronavirus to Wuhan, the metropolis where cases were first detected late last year.

The State Department called the conspiracy theory "ridiculous" and summoned the Chinese ambassador.

President Donald Trump later cited the episode for his controversial use of the term "Chinese virus" to describe the new coronavirus, which has sickened more than half a million people around the world.

Gabrielle said that China has also promoted on social media its accusation that Trump's terminology is racist.

China has increasingly welcomed discussion of the epidemic, which constituted about 60 percent of its official social media postings in Africa in mid-March, up from no discussion at all in early January, she said.

China has made a "concerted effort" to build a social media following "to convince people that they're acting responsibly in providing aid," Gabrielle said.

She said Russia continued to be the major concern.

In assessments provided last month to AFP, the Global Engagement Center said thousands of Russian-linked social media accounts have run a coordinated campaign to undermine official narratives, including by alleging US involvement.

"We're still seeing the Kremlin continue its reckless attempts to propagate disinformation," Gabrielle said.

Source and Original Article:>>> msn.com and AFP

Comments

Duterte orders Manila Water, Maynila to release water from Angat Dam

In a bid to address the ongoing water crisis in Metro Manila, President Duterte has ordered Manila Water and Maynilad to release water from the Angat Dam effective Friday. Angat Dam in Bulacan (Freddie Velez/ MANILA BULLETIN) In a statement, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said President Duterte was “aware and concerned” of the plight of Metro Manila residents due the present water crisis. According to Panelo, Manila Water Company, Inc., Maynilad Water Services, Inc. and other responsible offices were instructed to release water from the Angat Dam for 150 days. “The President is directing the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) to demand from the Manila Water Company, Inc., Maynilad Water Services, Inc. and other responsible offices to release water from Angat Dam by noon time today, March 15, good for 150 days, in order to supply the affected areas in Metro Manila and deliver, as well as distribute sufficient water to the residents thereof,” Pane...

Atty. Glenn Chong, nilinaw ang issue tungkol sa pagpapatigil ng SC sa retrieval ng ballots sa Iloilo City

PAGLILINAW Wala akong nakikitang pagtutol ng kampo ni BBM sa mariing pagtutol ng kampo ni Robredo na kolektahin ng PET ang mga ballot boxes mula sa Iloilo City kasabay ng mga ballot boxes ng Iloilo Province. Tama ang kampo ni Robredo na bilang independent chartered city, ang mga botante ng Iloilo City ay hindi bumuboto sa mga provincial officials ng Iloilo Province. In this regard, ang Iloilo City at Iloilo Province ay magkahiwalay na voting jurisdictions at may kanya-kanyang magkahiwalay na Certificate of Canvass. Sa protesta mismo ni BBM, magkahiwalay ang paglista ng mga presinto ng Iloilo City at Iloilo Province. Ito ay pagkilala ng mga abogado ni BBM na magkahiwalay nga na voting jurisdictions ang dalawa. Ang ibig lamang sabihin nito ay mauunang isailalim sa revision ang mga balota mula sa Iloilo Province bilang isa sa tatlong pilot provinces ni BBM. Kapag napatunayan ng kampo ni BBM na may significant recovery mula sa pilot provinces, itutuloy ang revision sa ibang ...

Philippines Developed Anti-Typhoon Rockets To Weaken Storms Wayback Marcos era

Photo compiled from Lucis Philippines Press and Philippine Latest News One of the ambitious and promising projects of the late President Ferdinand Marcos is the Anti-Typhoon Rockets to prevent storms. In a nutshell, it primarily works to weaken typhoons. Philippines as one of the flood and disaster-stricken countries as recorded, surpasses more than 10 typhoons each year. The strong typhoons like Yolanda, Ondoy, and Ompong as the latest have left some of the country’s provinces and cities under the state of calamity and so much damage, flash floods and landslides to enumerate some. An Ambitious Project Looking back on the Martial Law days, 1973, a Rain Weather Stimulation and Modernization Program” was created. Coming from a reference, Lucis Philippines, records of newspaper files detailing the project is presented. Though this program and its trial results aren’t much known to the public until today, it is said that its objective is to equip t...

Partner for Change Philippines

Search This Blog