Former US President Donald Trump had in 2019 authorised the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to launch a covert operation on Chinese social media to try to turn public sentiment against the government in Beijing -- according to a Reuters report.

The news agency said it had received information from three former US officials with direct knowledge of the highly classified operation that the CIA had formed a small team of spies who used fabricated online personas to spread negative narratives about President Xi Jinping's government, while leaking disparaging material to international media.

The campaign, which began in 2019, had not previously been publicised.

The CIA team, as detailed to Reuters, had promoted allegations against members of the Chinese government and undermined China's Belt and Road initiative, which provides financing and development for building projects in underdeveloped countries

The ultimate goal was to counter China's rapidly expanding global footprint over the past decade, including in forging military pacts, trade deals, and business partnerships with developing nations, they said.

CIA spokesperson Chelsea Robinson refused to comment on the alleged programme.

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, meanwhile, said the apparent CIA programme demonstrates how the US government exploits "public opinion space and media platforms as weapons to spread false information and manipulate international public opinion."