Chinese Misinformation Campaign Targeted Japanese PM Takaichi, Research Reveals

A Chinese misinformation network attacked newly elected Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi through dozens of social media accounts during her February election, according to new findings from a U.S. security research institute.

The Foundation for Defense of Democracy’s (FDD) Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation identified 35 X accounts and nine Tumblr channels that pushed corruption allegations against Takaichi while portraying her as an illegitimate and militaristic leader. According to Maria Riofrio, a researcher at the center, these accounts characterized the prime minister as a reckless “cult-backed” figure driving Japan toward war.

These accounts represent just a portion of a larger network comprising at least 327 social media accounts that have systematically targeted Beijing’s adversaries since December or earlier. The operation has pushed pro-China policy positions while attacking human rights organizations and attempting to influence domestic politics in multiple countries, including Japan, the United States, the Philippines, and several Latin American nations.

A spokesperson for Prime Minister Takaichi confirmed her office is aware of suspicious foreign social media accounts posting content related to Japan’s elections. “We consider this to be a national security threat that undermines the very foundations of democracy, including the fairness of elections and freedom of the press. We believe that countermeasures must be urgently prioritized,” the spokesperson stated.

The Chinese Embassy in Washington firmly rejected these allegations. Liu Pengyu, an embassy spokesperson, called the FDD analysis “groundless” and insisted that “the Chinese government consistently opposes and combats the use of fake accounts and other tactics to manipulate public opinion or spread disinformation.” Liu urged “relevant parties to stop making unfounded accusations and smearing others based on speculation.”

Riofrio identified the campaign as part of long-running Chinese information operations that cybersecurity experts have previously labeled “Spamouflage” or “Dragonbridge.” These operations have been active since at least 2017 and have repeatedly targeted global audiences.

While engagement with individual posts remains relatively low, the content still reaches users’ social media feeds, with operators manipulating algorithms to boost visibility. For instance, one tweet accusing Takaichi of cult membership received only two likes but garnered over 1,000 views.

“China has the political will to interfere in Japanese elections and internal affairs,” Riofrio noted, adding that similar operations target other countries, particularly the United States. The research found that nearly half of the 327 accounts attacked U.S. President Donald Trump, pushing narratives that his drug and border policies have worsened America’s fentanyl crisis while deflecting blame from China.

In a coordinated messaging campaign in early February focusing on Trump and fentanyl, six accounts with fewer than 10 followers each managed to attract hundreds of likes, retweets, and replies, generating nearly 18,000 views by February 12, according to Riofrio’s analysis.

One particularly sophisticated account in the network, “FentanylFreeA,” created in December 2025, appears designed to mimic the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency’s legitimate Fentanyl Free America campaign, using similar branding and identical imagery while attacking both the U.S. and India, which it falsely portrays as the source of fentanyl precursor drugs.

A spokesperson for Google’s Threat Intelligence Group characterized Dragonbridge as “the most prolific pro-PRC information operations operator” the company tracks as of early 2026, citing its “massive scale and assertive narrative agenda.” While maintaining its primary focus on targeting the U.S., overseas dissidents, government critics, and international NGOs, the operation has become “notably more assertive in the Asia-Pacific,” targeting Japanese leadership, Japan-Taiwan relations, Vietnam’s South China Sea activities, and the governments of India and the Philippines.

Separately, OpenAI reported on February 25 that it had disrupted attempts by a Chinese law enforcement official in mid-October to plan a multi-stage information attack specifically targeting Takaichi.