The Armed Forces of the Philippines says it has indicators pointing to China, or entities acting on its behalf, behind a fake letter circulated online that is allegedly signed by Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr.
AFP statements made on Wednesday cite the possibility of Chinese involvement, framing the document as part of a broader information environment related to the West Philippine Sea and the Ayungin area. One outlet reports AFP officials assessing whether there are signs of a “Chinese footprint” behind the letter. Another source similarly says AFP believes China could be behind the document.
At the same time, the outlets note limits in what AFP officials have seen or documented publicly: at least one AFP spokesperson is described as having not seen the letter itself or an official investigative report. Across the reports, the assessment is presented as preliminary and based on available indicators rather than confirmed attribution.
