Sanae Takaichi delivers a greeting at the Liberal Democratic Party's joint parliamentary meeting following the leadership election, on the afternoon of October 4 at the party headquarters in Nagatacho, Tokyo.
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Since Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi took office in October, Chinese authorities and state-run media have intensified their information war on her and on Japan. These include defamation, unwarranted criticism, distortion of facts, and the spread of outright falsehoods.
The sheer volume of disinformation and image manipulation they are disseminating, often with little attempt at subtlety, is almost absurd.
Yet lies, when repeated often enough, can be mistaken for truth. As China wages a state-led information war against Japan and the wider world, Japan must now consider how to respond.
Taiwan Contingency Comments
At a press conference on December 17 following the close of an extraordinary Diet session, Prime Minister Takaichi reiterated her parliamentary remarks on a possible Taiwan contingency did not represent a change in the Japanese government's longstanding position.
She also expressed a desire to pursue frank dialogue to improve strained Japan–China relations. Emphasizing the importance of communication, she said, "Precisely because there are outstanding issues and challenges, dialogue is essential. Japan is open to a wide range of discussions with China, including at the leadership level."
It is important for Japan's prime minister to convey a calm and measured message to the international community. At the same time, information coming from China must be carefully scrutinized, and false narratives must be corrected before they spread unchecked around the world.
Twisting the Truth
Below is a roughly one-minute video we published in November. In it, JAPAN Forward reporter Daniel Manning explains how Chinese state-run media distorted the Prime Minister's Diet remarks on a Taiwan contingency.
"Have you seen these cartoons of Sanae Takaichi in response to her comments on Taiwan?" he asks at the outset. The cartoons, depicting Prime Minister Takaichi as a witch reviving Japanese pre-war militarism, were shared on social media by Chinese state-backed media outlets. They were based on false Chinese claims that she had said Japan would send troops against China in the event of a Taiwan contingency. These claims were reported not only by Chinese media but even by the British magazine The Economist.
Rather than correcting these falsehoods, China instead went on to blame Japan over an early December incident in which a Chinese military aircraft locked its radar onto a Japan Air Self-Defense Force plane. This response suggests little willingness to refrain from such dangerous and provocative behavior.
Why, then, does China display such hostility toward Japan and Prime Minister Takaichi?
One possibility is an effort to destabilize Japanese politics and drive a wedge between Japan and the United States. Another may be the creation of an external enemy to heighten tensions and strengthen unity within China's military and political leadership. It may also be intended to distract attention from domestic economic difficulties. Whatever the motive, Japan is likely to face a prolonged struggle against disinformation from China.
A Strong Japan
Recently, JAPAN Forward hosted a reception with its supporters and unveiled a new strategy to reach a broader audience as an evolving bilingual media outlet. We announced plans to actively use platforms such as videos and podcasts, marking a shift toward a new kind of media that goes beyond traditional article-based reporting.
Japan's Minister of Finance, Satsuki Katayama, who attended as a guest of honor, appealed to the audience saying, "Let us build a strong economy and a strong Japan together."
A strong Japan is essential to stability and peace in Asia and around the world. To achieve this, Japan must communicate effectively with the international community. As the world enters an era of information warfare, JAPAN Forward aims to continue evolving into a uniquely positioned bilingual media outlet unlike any other.
Watch for the next issue on January 19.
JAPAN Forward is a media outlet driven by an unparalleled passion to advance the future of Japan and its role in the world. For inquiries, please call 0570-033-433 (Sankei iD) or email us at info@japan-forward.com.
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Author: Yasuo Naito, Editor in Chief
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