Analyst warns of China's disinformation campaign

CHINA might resort to an intensified disinformation campaign to push its claims in the disputed West Philippine Sea, a political science expert and analyst said on Wednesday.

«What is being done to us in the West Philippine Sea is part of an elaborate and long-term strategy of China for their narrative. If we look closely, this is part of what we call the grey zone tactics of China to enforce what they see is needed, like the firing of water cannons and laser pointing,» said Dr. Sherwin Ona, an analyst and associate professor of political science and development studies at the De La Salle University, during the Bagong Pilipinas briefing.

Ona added that while China is flexing its military muscles to intimidate, it is unlikely to initiate a war.

He said its goal is to make it appear that it was the Philippines that was encroaching into its territory.

«China will use its power, not just that of its military. We see their aggressive moves — with its militia and coast guard. But also in the background, they have this united front. They have their government and their private sector to push their pro-Beijing narrative to dominate their version of the story of what's happening in the West Philippine Sea. And they've been very aggressive in pushing it. Their making it appear that it is the Philippines encroaching in their territory. They're flipping the story,» he said.

«We should also analyze their so-called 'playbook'. As much as possible, they would want armed conflict in the West Philippine Sea. Although we know they are capable of that, they are avoiding that. They are more after what is below the threshold of armed conflict; that's why they proliferating disinformation to convince the people, even Filipinos, and the international community that they are in the right,» Ona added.

He said the best option for the Philippines right now is to ramp up its collaboration with other claimant countries, noting that such a step would show that violating the rights of the Philippines is also violating the rights of other nations relying on the West Philippine Sea.

«We have to show the community of nations that we are standing up (for our rights). Apart from that, we must also ramp