MANILA – China denied having interest in interfering in the Philippines’ upcoming midterm elections, as alleged by the National Security Council (NSC).
In a media conference, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun rejected the allegations made by NSC spokesperson Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya in a Senate inquiry.
“China follows the principle of non-interference in other countries’ domestic affairs,” Guo said. “We have no interest in interfering in Philippine elections.”
At a Senate inquiry on China’s submersible drones and alleged espionage activities in the Philippines, Malaya affirmed that Chinese operations were allegedly supporting certain candidates in the upcoming polls.
“There are indications that information operations being conducted… are Chinese state-sponsored and are actually interfering in the forthcoming elections,” Malaya said.
Malaya also answered in affirmative when asked if the alleged operations were helping candidates China wanted to win while undermining those whom it wanted to lose.
“Yes, there are indications of that,” he said.
Meanwhile, Malacañang said the information regarding China’s supposed interference was alarming and it has already reached President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
“Paiigtingin pa po natin, sa utos na rin po ng ating administrasyon, na imbestigahan nang malalim para malaman po natin kung anuman ang katotohanan patungkol po rito,” said Presidential Communications Office’s Undersecretary Claire Castro on Friday./PN
