Q: On July 12, a company located in the United States, published an investigation article, accusing Chinese fishing ships dumping waste in the South China Sea. On July 16, an article in the Manila Times revealed that this company is funded by former Aquino ranking official and had been contracted by the US State Department to manufacture anti-China propaganda using its interpretations of satellite images. On the same day, a think-tank South China Sea Probing Initiative issued an analysis to show the loop holes of the report, arguing that Chlorophyll A can be seen everywhere on the sea surface while not only in the South China Sea. Do you have any comment?

A: The Chinese Embassy has taken note of relevant reports and also noticed that Philippine government officials questioned the authenticity of the report's conclusion.

The Chinese Embassy strongly condemns the said company's act of fabricating facts, violating professional ethics, and maliciously spreading fake news against China. For a long time, anti-China forces like this company have spared no efforts to produce lies and hype up the South China Sea issue to discredit and demonize China, create hatred and anti-China sentiments in the Philippines. Their ultimate goal is to sow discord between China and the Philippines so as to serve their own political agenda.

These anti-China forces have formed a complete set of routines. Some foreign organizations issue a fabricated report, and then some irresponsible media follow up to spread fake news. Finally, some anti-China forces use fake news to accuse and defame China.

The Chinese Embassy believes that a lie told a thousand times is still a lie. Any rational person will see through the tricks. China is willing to work with countries along the coast of the South China Sea, including the Philippines, to eliminate interference and jointly maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea.