It is with pleasure that we share with you the Stratbase ADR Institute’s SPARK paper for December 2023. It is entitled “China’s Information Warfare In The Philippines,” authored by Ms. Joyce Ilas, the Communications and Advocacy Manager of the Institute.

This paper represents an exploratory study about the information warfare being perpetrated by the People’s Republic of China in the Philippines, which primarily deals with the West Philippine Sea issue. It also promotes one of the Institute’s core advocacies that deals with campaigning against disinformation.

Aside from delivering a deeper analysis of the motivations, objectives, and methodology of China’s information warfare, it specifically investigates on the disinformation operations in the Philippines from 2016 until 2023 and the consequent responses of the Duterte and Marcos Jr. administrations.

In essence, while Philippines’ sovereignty is insistently being attacked by China’s aggressive expansionism coated by disinformation warfare, assertive transparency, information warfare policies, social media responsibility, public information and education about disinformation, and the election of right leaders will altogether be the key to further strengthen the country’s defense and security.

The paper is composed of the following sections: (1) The Philippine Situation; (2) China’s Objectives; (3) China’s Methodology; (4) Social Engineering; (5) Inauthentic Amplification; and (6) Conclusion and Recommendations.