On April 24, the Philippine Senate accused China of funding a covert digital campaign to influence the country’s upcoming midterm elections and shape public opinion on the South China Sea. At the core of the allegation is InfinitUs Marketing Solutions, a Makati-based PR firm, allegedly hired by the Chinese Embassy to run a troll farm targeting critics of Beijing’s maritime ambitions.
Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino presented evidence, including a ₱930,000 cheque from the Bank of China and a signed service agreement from August 2023, linking InfinitUs to Chinese embassy officials. He described the deal not as traditional PR, but as a covert operation to sway public perception and quietly support candidates more favorable to China’s agenda in the South China Sea dispute.
The alleged campaign involved creating over 300 fake Facebook accounts and 30 fake X (formerly Twitter) profiles, posing as students, business owners, and military personnel. These profiles were used to amplify pro-China propaganda, attack officials promoting stronger U.S.-Philippines defense ties, and engage with real users to manipulate online discourse.
High-profile targets of the campaign included President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Supreme Court justices, and lawmakers who openly challenge China’s territorial claims. The timing of the campaign—weeks before the May midterm elections—has intensified concerns about foreign interference in the country’s democratic process.
The National Security Council (NSC) confirmed it had detected signs of foreign influence operations and warned that Beijing may be using local proxies to sway voters and weaken support for Philippine sovereignty. While officials stopped short of naming these proxies, they called the threat ongoing and serious.
Experts believe this is part of China’s broader soft power strategy in Southeast Asia, using disinformation and digital influence rather than direct confrontation. With public trust and national security at stake, the Philippine government is boosting cybersecurity efforts and raising awareness, as the battle for territorial control now plays out not only at sea—but across social media and the public mind.
