China Deploying Bots to Spread Disinformation, Japanese Analyst Reports

Experts are warning that China and Russia have refined their disinformation tactics, now using sophisticated methods that blend truths with falsehoods to manipulate online discourse and public opinion. According to Japanese analyst Masakazu Takamori, this evolution represents a significant challenge for democratic nations.

Speaking at a recent seminar in Taiwan, Takamori, who serves as CEO of Japan Nexus Intelligence, explained that foreign operatives have moved beyond completely fabricated narratives to more nuanced approaches. These include deploying generative artificial intelligence to create content that avoids the telltale linguistic errors often made by non-native speakers, effectively concealing the foreign origin of propaganda.

“We’ve detected evidence of ‘bot bombs’ in Japan,” Takamori noted, describing algorithms designed to identify specific keywords and generate massive amounts of content around targeted narratives. These operations artificially boost engagement rates to ensure controversial topics quickly rise to the top of social media feeds.

The cognitive warfare directed at Japan concentrates on several strategic themes. One focuses on Okinawa, promoting false claims that it is rightfully Chinese territory that was forcibly annexed by Japan. Another targets U.S. military installations in Japan by amplifying grievances about the “unequal burden” placed on local residents—aiming to foster anti-American sentiment and discontent toward the central government in Tokyo.

Takamori presented evidence showing how foreign operatives consistently portray Japan and Taiwan as militarily inferior to China. One propaganda image he shared depicted China as a giant panda pursuing Japan and Taiwan, portrayed as small, helpless rats—a visual metaphor designed to instill a sense of inevitable defeat.

More recently, these disinformation campaigns have begun targeting Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi personally, labeling her as an extreme right-winger and suggesting that Japanese businesses associated with her administration could face retaliation from the Chinese government. “These tactics are clearly intended to undermine the Takaichi administration’s national security and defense positions,” Takamori observed.

The expert identified additional propaganda themes seeking to exploit domestic social tensions, including controversies around gender equality and resource distribution. These campaigns attempt to fuel youth discontent against the established order. Foreign actors also commonly accuse Tokyo of ineffective responses to natural disasters and inadequate victim relief, thereby provoking public anger toward government institutions.

“The pattern of cognitive warfare attacks targeting Taiwan is almost identical to what we’re seeing in Japan, especially during election periods,” Takamori said, noting that the primary difference is simply the language used. “Hostile forces are exploiting freedom of speech in our democracies to spread their lies.”

Both Japan and Taiwan face constraints in countering disinformation through direct or forceful means. Current strategies rely heavily on commentators, influencers, and academics to rebut propaganda. However, Takamori argues this reactive “fire brigade” approach is unsustainable, as it places governments perpetually on the defensive.

“Defending against cognitive warfare requires governments to anticipate foreign propaganda and implement pre-emptive measures to strengthen the public’s psychological resilience,” he emphasized. This necessitates stronger international cooperation in sharing data about hostile disinformation campaigns.

Takamori specifically called for enhanced collaboration between Taiwan and Japan, suggesting that pooling resources and intelligence could help both democracies better withstand information warfare from authoritarian regimes.

As cognitive warfare tactics grow increasingly sophisticated with advances in artificial intelligence and social media algorithms, democratic nations face mounting pressure to develop effective countermeasures that preserve freedom of expression while protecting against foreign manipulation of public discourse.