China Intensifies Campaign Against Japan’s Regional Influence, Research Finds

Chinese state media and diplomatic channels have dramatically increased efforts to undermine Japan’s position as a key Indo-Pacific security partner throughout 2025, according to new research from Japan Nexus Intelligence and the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI).

The analysis reveals a strategic shift in Beijing’s approach to regional information operations. While previous campaigns relied heavily on covert networks operating under false pretenses, China now increasingly deploys its official diplomatic accounts and state media to push anti-Japan messaging across Southeast Asia and the Pacific.

This tactical evolution serves multiple strategic purposes, researchers note. By utilizing official channels, China can project its narratives with greater scale and perceived legitimacy, particularly when targeting government officials, local elites, and media ecosystems across the region. Official diplomatic messaging also carries significantly lower operational risk compared to covert influence campaigns, which have faced increasing scrutiny and platform takedowns in recent years.

The European Union’s 2023 report on foreign information manipulation identified formal diplomatic channels as the most common content distribution technique for state-backed influence operations. The EU’s 2025 follow-up report specifically highlighted Beijing’s growing use of social media accounts to extend the reach of Chinese state media narratives.

A recent example occurred in November when the Chinese embassy in Australia posted four videos on X (formerly Twitter) criticizing Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi after she suggested that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could prompt a Japanese military response.

For Indo-Pacific governments, this shift represents an evolving challenge. They must now contend with Chinese narratives delivered through official state channels that strategically blend propaganda with selective interpretations of history and geopolitics. These efforts are often more persuasive due to their apparent authority and targeted approach to national sensitivities.

Japan faces particular targeting because of its status as a U.S. ally, vocal support for Taiwan and the Philippines, and growing development and security partnerships across the Pacific region. Throughout 2025, Chinese state-affiliated outlets have seeded anti-Japan narratives, which diplomatic channels subsequently amplified to audiences across Southeast Asia and Pacific nations.

The 80th anniversary of World War II’s end provided a central theme for these campaigns. Between January and October 2025, references to “the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War” surged to approximately 780,100 mentions on X and in news coverage—a dramatic increase from around 16,800 mentions in 2024. This messaging peaked around China’s September 3 Victory Day parade.

Chinese embassies in Fiji, the Philippines, and Australia have actively shared articles from state media outlets like China Daily, Xinhua, and People’s Daily Online that criticize Japan’s historical conduct while portraying China as peace-loving. Some content attempts to recast wartime history to align local narratives with Beijing’s perspective, such as references to the “joint resistance of Chinese, Australian peoples against Japanese aggression.”

The Chinese embassy in Manila has been particularly active, posting content that references countries “in Asia that endured brutal occupation and aggression from Japan,” while calling on Tokyo to “face up to and reflect on its history of aggression” to “earn the trust of its Asian neighbors.”

When Japan engages in defense cooperation initiatives, Chinese media consistently frames these activities as evidence of renewed militarism. Following Australia’s selection of a Japanese design for a new frigate program in August, Chinese state-owned outlet Ifeng claimed Japan was using the opportunity to “build alliances, disrupt regional order and stability, and advance its own interests through a patchwork of military partnerships.”

Similarly, Japan’s participation in multinational military exercises draws immediate criticism. China Military Online characterized Japan’s involvement in Australia’s Talisman Sabre exercises as evidence of Japan “enhancing its offensive military capabilities” in ways that “undermine peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific.”

In the Pacific Islands region, China has leveraged WWII comparisons to suggest that Japan’s development assistance conceals militaristic ambition. When Tokyo announced 60 billion yen in aid at the 2024 Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting, Chinese analysts claimed these actions would “not bring true security” and would trigger countermeasures.

Security experts warn that as China continues to assert regional influence, its efforts to delegitimize Indo-Pacific partners like Japan will likely intensify. While covert networks persist, Beijing’s increasing reliance on official channels means disinformation now carries greater authority and is tailored to exploit local political sensitivities.

Western governments are advised to prepare for renewed propaganda attacks targeting joint exercises, defense cooperation, and development initiatives. Strategic communications highlighting the stabilizing purpose of regional engagement will remain essential to counter China’s narratives and demonstrate how these efforts ultimately seek to erode rather than enhance regional stability.