Think tank warns of China-backed cyber warfare

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February 22, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — The Stratbase Institute warned on Thursday that the Philippines is confronting an “unseen war” in cyberspace as China-linked information operations and foreign interference increasingly shape public perception and democratic processes ahead of future elections.

Speaking at the opening of the two-day cybersecurity conference “Navigating Digital Crossroads: Advancing Cybersecurity and Democratic Resilience in the Indo-Pacific in Manila,” Stratbase president Victor Andres Manhit said the battleground has shifted beyond traditional military conflict.

“This is a war we cannot easily see. It is no longer plainly measured by bullets, ships or aircraft. It is measured by who controls the information space, who shapes the narratives being amplified and who influences public perception,” he said.

Organized by Stratbase in partnership with the Embassy of Canada in the Philippines, the forum gathered senior government officials, security leaders, diplomats, technology experts and academics to tackle escalating cyber threats, hybrid warfare, cyber espionage and foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI).

Manhit underscored that democratic resilience requires transparency and accountability, even amid geopolitical tensions, and cautioned that election-related influence operations begin well before the formal campaign period.

“A few weeks ago, the Stratbase Institute released two statements about China. The Chinese embassy responded. We welcome that response because this is precisely what democratic resilience requires: open debate, transparency, accountability and the defense of sovereign rights under international law,” he said.

“A campaign does not begin in the filing of certificates of candidacy. It begins now, in shaping the information environment and the cyber landscape,” he added.

Citing Stratbase-commissioned Pulse Asia survey data, Manhit revealed that most Filipinos rely on social media and online platforms for news, while seven in ten expressed deep concern about misinformation.

“What starts as ‘fake news’ rarely stays confined to a single platform,” he said. “It spreads across networks, enters daily conversations and ultimately penetrates governance and national decision making.”