China’s Disinformation Campaign Raises Concerns for Japanese Security

China Unleashes Disinformation Campaign Against Japan Amid Deepening Diplomatic Crisis

China has launched an aggressive disinformation campaign targeting Japan following a serious deterioration in bilateral relations sparked by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s comments regarding Taiwan. The ongoing information warfare represents just one facet of Beijing’s multi-pronged pressure campaign against Tokyo, which has included economic sanctions, military intimidation, and diplomatic isolation.

The current crisis erupted after Takaichi made statements about the potential implications of a Taiwan contingency for Japan’s security, which Chinese officials interpreted as crossing a “red line.” Beijing’s response has been swift and comprehensive, deploying economic weapons including suspensions of Japanese seafood imports, reductions in flights to Japan, and discouraging Chinese citizens from traveling there.

On the military front, China has increased its maritime presence in East Asian waters and allegedly targeted Japan’s Air Self-Defense Forces fighter aircraft with radar locks on two separate occasions—a provocative act that signals potential military escalation. Politically, Premier Li Qiang demonstratively snubbed Takaichi at the recent G20 Summit, while Chinese diplomats have publicly condemned her.

The disinformation campaign, however, may prove to be the most insidious aspect of China’s strategy. Beijing has crafted narratives designed to erode international support for Japan, threaten its national cohesion, and constrain the Takaichi administration’s policy options.

At the international level, China’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Fu Cong, has formally protested to UN Secretary-General António Guterres, characterizing Takaichi’s remarks as “a grave violation of international law” and suggesting Japan harbors “ambitions to overturn the post-war international order.” Fu deliberately invoked historical memories by connecting Takaichi’s reference to a “survival-threatening situation” with Japan’s “history of aggression” and militaristic past in Asia.

This diplomatic maneuvering allows China to position itself as a defender of international norms while portraying Japan as a destabilizing force—a calculated effort to damage Japan’s global reputation and diplomatic standing.

Domestically, China has targeted Okinawa in an apparent attempt to foment internal division. The Chinese Communist Party-affiliated Global Times published an editorial questioning Japan’s sovereignty over the Okinawan islands, claiming “historical and legal disputes over the sovereignty of the Ryukyu Islands have never ceased.” The publication also released reports allegedly featuring Okinawan voices criticizing Takaichi’s statements.

While such influence operations in Okinawa aren’t new, they appear strategically timed to exploit existing concerns among Okinawans, who fear being caught in a potential US-China conflict over Taiwan. A 2022 Asahi Shimbun poll revealed that 85% of Okinawans worried about exactly such a scenario. This targeted campaign adds pressure on Takaichi’s recently formed government as it attempts to secure political stability.

Perhaps most concerning for Tokyo is how China’s disinformation might constrain the Takaichi administration’s policy options. Chinese officials have characterized Japan’s defense build-up and increased military spending as “rearmament” efforts fulfilling “militarist” ambitions. China’s representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency has even alleged that Japan is stockpiling plutonium beyond civilian needs, implying nuclear weapon development.

These accusations come at a sensitive time, as the Takaichi government faces pressure from Washington to increase defense spending to 2% of GDP in fiscal 2025 and is considering a review of Japan’s “Three Non-Nuclear Principles.” By highlighting these issues, Beijing likely hopes to mobilize Japanese domestic opposition to these security policy shifts.

Japan has thus far responded to China’s claims with measured, fact-based rebuttals. However, the campaign represents a significant challenge, as disinformation can potentially undermine decades of careful Japanese foreign policy and nation-building efforts.

As tensions continue, the information battleground may prove as important as economic and military confrontation in this escalating bilateral crisis. Tokyo now faces the difficult task of defending its international reputation while maintaining domestic unity under sustained pressure from its powerful neighbor.