EU Worried About Medical Supplies After Chinese Threats, Softened Criticism: Reports

A report issued by the European External Action Service (EEAS), concerning Chinese disinformation surrounding the coronavirus pandemic, was edited to soften criticism against the Communist superpower.

Making these charges are The New York Times and South China Morning Post (SCMP), who claim to have acquired the original version of the report that contains language "more damning" toward China than the report published Friday (April 24). The two news outlets allege that the report was altered because of economic threats made by China toward the European Union (EU).

Originally established to keep an eye and ear on Russian disinformation, the EEAS has expanded its mission to observe China and what its propaganda machine spews out. The report was a regular update from the EU’s disinformation team that is part of EEAS.

The first obvious question: What was changed from the original document?

According to the SCMP, a section that included language that spoke of “a global disinformation campaign to deflect blame for the outbreak of the pandemic and improve its international image” was removed. Also omitted from the published version were references to China’s criticism of France and a pro-Chinese bot (software robots that can execute any business process) network in Serbia.

SCMP also claimed that Beijing warned EU diplomats based in China that there would be “repercussions” if the document were published. Other sources reported that diplomats worried that the report would “strain” relations and make it “difficult to get medical supplies” from China.

The second obvious question: Who was involved?

The NYT reported that Esther Osorio, a communications adviser to EU Minister for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell, ordered the delay of publication. Remaining in the published report were notes of efforts by China to spread disinformation, to deflect any blame for the outbreak of the pandemic.

The report says that Osorio may have thought it best to avoid any accusations of bias that focused too much on China and Russia. She suggested that language be used to show that China was “aggressively pushing a narrative” instead of using the harsher “pushing disinformation."

Peter Stano, the EU spokesman talked to Fox News. He said, "The publications of the EEAS are categorically independent. We have never bowed to any alleged external political pressure. This includes also our latest snapshot overview on disinfo trends published last Friday. The public EEAS special report makes clear reference to the continued use of conspiracy narratives and disinformation from government and State-backed sources, including Russia and China. This is a good indicator for the fact that the EU did not back down to any outside pressure."

He continued with Fox News, railing against the NYT, "The New York Times article makes ungrounded, inaccurate allegations and contains factually incorrect conclusions about the EEAS’ report. They have also used our replies and explanations in a disproportionate and selective way. We have written a letter to the Editor of the New York Times to express our disappointment with the article, and have invited them to consult the www.euvsdisinfo.eu website in order to fully understand the extent of the EEAS leading work to collect, analyze and expose disinformation about the coronavirus."

One final question: Is China, as a key exporter of strategic products, able to sway foreign governments to cover alleged misdeeds more softly? Apparently, the New York Times and SCMP believe the answer is yes amid denials by the EEAS.