The National Security Council (NSC) on Thursday warned that China is allegedly interfering in the upcoming 2025 midterm elections, seemingly confirming the existence of state-sponsored information operations aimed at swaying the outcome of the national vote.

Appearing before a Senate panel investigating recent maritime surveillance activities linked to Chinese nationals, NSC Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya revealed that there are indicators pointing to Chinese state-sponsored efforts actively interfering in the forthcoming elections in the Philippines.

“There are indications that information operations are being conducted that are Chinese state-sponsored in the Philippines that are actually interfering in the forthcoming elections,” Malaya said during the Senate hearing.

During the hearing, it was asked whether foreign actors were targeting candidates with strong pro-sovereignty or anti-China stances.

“There are indications of that,” Malaya responded.

'Script from Beijing'

According to the NSC, China’s interference comes in the form of coordinated disinformation campaigns and narrative amplification designed to influence voter perception and favor certain candidates.

“What we’ve observed is that many narratives coming from Beijing are being amplified by third-party individuals, their proxies based here in the Philippines,” Malaya explained in Filipino.

“Whatever script originates from Beijing, it’s echoed here by these local voices.”

When asked if the messaging spikes during specific political events like survey releases, Malaya confirmed the correlation. “Yes, that is correct,” he said.

He cited current events such as the Balikatan joint military exercises, where narratives criticizing the drills as a “threat to regional peace” first emerged from Chinese state media, then resurfaced locally through domestic groups parroting the same rhetoric.

Malaya added that the NSC has already identified some of these so-called “local proxies” and has a list of individuals and organizations suspected of disseminating foreign-sponsored propaganda.

Cyber threats also rising

Deputy Director Francisco Ashley Acedillo of the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) also testified in the same hearing, highlighting ongoing cyber vulnerabilities among Philippine government institutions.

Acedillo reported that the government has recorded 234 data breaches, 32 dark web exposures, 91 compromised credentials, and 266 affected digital assets in recent months, underscoring the magnitude of cybersecurity threats potentially tied to foreign interference.