FEATURE | How China wages an infowar in the Philippines against maritime claims

Proxy warfare?

The trolls buttressed news-and-culture outlet Ni Hao Manila, which means "Hello, Manila” in Mandarin.

The outlet has posted videos highlighting Beijing’s naval prowess and criticising Philippine security cooperation with the US. Some of its posts were also shared by the InfinitUs fake accounts.

One of the former employees said InfinitUs had purchased fake likes and follows from Facebook vendors for Ni Hao Manila, which has about 115,000 followers on YouTube and 300,000 on TikTok.

Graphika’s Hardy said the outlet’s TikTok channel exhibited inorganic behavior like videos with hundreds of likes but no comments.

TikTok said it investigated Ni Hao Manila’s account after being notified by Reuters and removed fake followers.

Ni Hao Manila amplified content from at least one Filipino involved in managing APCU, the Communist Party-affiliated organisation.

Several serving or former Philippine officials also received awards that APCU says came with cash ranging from between roughly $850 and $3,440.

They include Manuel Mamba, a provincial leader who has opposed some plans to host the US military; Regina Tecson, a key aide to Duterte’s daughter Sara; and Jaime T Cruz and Carlos Chan, both former envoys to Beijing.

Mamba, who received an award APCU said was worth $2,570, told Reuters he accepted a plaque but was, "not aware of any monetary award or quid pro quo in connection with this recognition.”

He said his engagement with foreign representatives - which had included receiving a donation from Taiwan for typhoon victims - was, “consistent with my responsibility to promote cooperation and opportunities beneficial to my constituents.”

Tecson said there were no conditions attached to her award of about $1,700 and that she used the money for charity work.

Other recipients announced by APCU include Banlaoi, the national security nominee, as well as writers Herman Tiu Laurel, Adolfo Paglinawan and Rod Kapunan.

All four were also identified as instruments for Chinese influence in a 2024 presentation about foreign interference created for internal use by a Philippine security agency and seen by Reuters.

Tiu Laurel did not respond to specific questions but said the award recognized, “individuals who stand for the truth in Philippine-China relations.”

APCU, as well as Cruz, Chan, Paglinawan and Kapunan did not return requests for comment.

Surveys indicate Filipino support for the US alliance remains strong but former senator Tolentino said Beijing’s efforts were showing some signs of success.

Polls show the frontrunner for the 2028 presidential elections is Sara Duterte, who has criticised the term-limited Marcos Jr’s pro-American policies.

“Filipinos believe in social media,” Tolentino said. “They can be swayed.”

(Reporting by Poppy McPherson in Bangkok and Karen Lema in Manila; Additional reporting by Devjyot Ghoshal in Bangkok, Trevor Hunnicutt in Washington and the Beijing newsroom; Editing by Katerina Ang)