WASHINGTON — While the US and China have paused tariff hikes in a 90-day trade truce, a wave of misinformation is stirring fresh tensions online.

Fake videos and bot-driven campaigns on platforms like TikTok, Douyin, and Weibo are spreading false claims — from Americans panic-buying Chinese goods to luxury brands hiding Chinese manufacturing.

These narratives, often amplified by state-linked accounts and Chinese media, aim to stoke anti-US sentiment and project American economic weakness.

Security experts say thousands of fake profiles have pushed anti-US messages, redirecting consumers toward Chinese-made goods and even counterfeits.

Despite the truce, analysts warn that this digital disinformation war is likely to escalate alongside trade talks, shaping public opinion and influencing economic behavior.