China refutes allegations of backing Myanmar coup

The Chinese government defended its use of Twitter and Facebook on Thursday, following a report that it had used its growing social media presence to spread disinformation about the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic.

When asked about the report, Hua Chunying, a spokesperson of Foreign Ministry, didn't directly address the allegations about China's role in spreading virus disinformation.

However, she called the report hype and said China should have the right to use social media too.

An Associated Press investigation, conducted in collaboration with the Atlantic Council's Digital Forensic Research Lab, found that powerful political figures and allied media in China as well as the U.S., Russia and Iran flooded the globe with disinformation about the virus.

The report, published earlier this week, said that Chinese officials went on the offensive in reaction to a narrative — nursed by former U.S. President Donald Trump among others — that the virus had been manufactured by China.

Experts have largely ruled out that possibility.

Hua, asked about the AP report at a daily Foreign Ministry briefing, said that some people in Western countries, such as the U.S, don't want to hear China's objective and true voice.

Separately, Hua denounced the rumors that China was helping Myanmar military government control its internet traffic and others that Chinese soldiers were showing up on the Myanmar's streets.

Hua stated that the purpose of those rumors is to "sabotage and provoke" China-Myanmar relations, and called on Myanmar to guarantee Chinese nationals' safety there.

This comment comes as people protested in front of the Chinese Embassy in Yangon, demanding Beijing to stop supporting the military government and calling for boycott of Chinese goods.

Since the coup, the junta has ratcheted up the pressure on protesters resisting the takeover, including violently breaking up some demonstrations and blocking internet access.

Asked about the progress of disengagement of Chinese and Indian border troops at Pangong Lake in the Ladakh region, Hua said that it has been "going smoothly" so far.

China and India began pulling back front-line troops from disputed portions of their mountain border where they have been in a standoff for months last week.

The tense standoff began in early May of 2020, when Indian and Chinese soldiers ignored each other's repeated verbal warnings, triggering a yelling match, stone-throwing and fistfights at the northern bank of Pangong Lake.

"We hope that both sides will continue to move in the same direction and strictly follow the consensus reached and the agreements signed earlier to ensure the smooth completion of disengagement," said Hua.