The Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) has condemned the Chinese Embassy for accusing it and one of its contributors of acting as instruments of U.S. propaganda, following the release of a video explainer on pro-China disinformation.
In a statement on Thursday, February 26, PCIJ said it “regret[s] the Chinese Embassy has resorted to accusing PCIJ and PCIJ contributor Regine Cabato of being tools of U.S. propaganda after we released a video explainer on pro-China disinformation.”
The media organization stressed that it receives funding from multiple sources and has maintained editorial independence since its founding in 1989.
“The PCIJ receives funding from multiple sources, including from UN organizations. We have zealously guarded our independence since our founding in 1989. We are nobody’s tool,” the group said.
PCIJ also expressed concern over how quickly the Embassy’s allegations spread online, noting that partisan groups amplified the message shortly after it was posted.
“And yet, we have watched as pro-Duterte partisans amplified the Chinese Embassy’s allegations, posted at 11:34 PM Manila time on Facebook and X. The virality of the Embassy’s message within a few hours attest to the coordinated nature of this online attack,” PCIJ said.
The group described the accusations as an attack on independent journalism.
“We are alarmed that the Chinese Embassy is attacking independent reporting by Filipinos. Their actions only lend credence to our story,” PCIJ added.
Earlier, the Chinese Embassy had claimed that PCIJ receives funding from the U.S. National Endowment for Democracy, which it described as a “white glove” of the U.S. government allegedly involved in influencing other countries’ internal affairs and public opinion.