China Rising, America Retrenching: Japan Must Stand on Its Own

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Staying true to its "America First" agenda, the Donald Trump administration has ramped up pressure on elite Ivy League institutions like Harvard University. Pointing to violent protests and a rise in antisemitism linked to pro-Palestinian activism, the government has taken a hardline stance. It is cracking down on students, pushing for changes to diversity-driven admissions policies, and moving to freeze subsidies and terminate contracts.

Harvard's International Student Issue

On May 30, United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio directed American diplomatic missions to screen visa applicants, students, faculty, and guest speakers affiliated with Harvard for social media posts containing antisemitic content. At the same time, the US began revoking visas for Chinese international students conducting research in sensitive fields authorities believe have ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

That same month, the US House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party sent a formal inquiry to Harvard's president. The letter sought details about exchanges and donations involving the CCP, citing reports that members of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, accused of involvement in the Uyghur genocide, had taken part in Harvard training programs. It also raised concerns about Chinese universities linked to the People's Liberation Army (PLA) participating in research funded by the US Department of Defense.

*Tomoko Ako, Professor at the University of Tokyo*

Harvard also openly accepts the children of high-ranking Chinese officials. The daughter of President Xi Jinping and the son of the disgraced Bo Xilai both graduated from Harvard.

The Reality Behind Cross-Border 'Exchanges'

As globalization advances and the world becomes increasingly interconnected, tensions between nations are rising. These are often fueled by deteriorating diplomatic relations, territorial disputes, economic sanctions, and cyberattacks. People, goods, capital, and information are actively flowing across borders. Yet, we are seeing more and more situations where the true nature of "exchanges" with adversarial countries and regions must be called into question.

You may have come across the story of a Chinese student who recently delivered a commencement speech at Harvard while dressed in hanfu, traditional Han Chinese attire.

In her speech, the Chinese student recalled an episode from her internship in Mongolia. A friend interning in Tanzania reached out to her, unable to read the Chinese characters on a washing machine. Sharing this anecdote, she declared that the world was "becoming a small village," and repeatedly emphasized the idea of "shared humanity." When rendered in Chinese, the phrase closely echoes Xi Jinping's slogan: "a community with a shared future for mankind."

Her speech quickly went viral on Chinese social media, where comment sections were filled with prideful remarks like, "The voice of a community with a shared future for mankind is echoing across the Harvard campus."

While she received widespread praise on Chinese platforms, criticism emerged from some overseas Chinese communities. Much of the backlash stemmed from the fact that she had been admitted to Harvard Kennedy School with a recommendation from the head of a government-affiliated organization, one that appears to be a private entity on the surface. Adding to the skepticism, the first Chinese media outlet to report on her speech published the story in its Political Affairs section.

The 'Small Village' Illusion

I recently translated an article by a Chinese intellectual who offered a critical analysis of the case. The author argued that the CCP deliberately sends young people like her to study at top American universities as part of a broader strategic effort. Beneath the feel-good narrative of a "small village," the author pointed to signs of large-scale bribery, debt diplomacy, and the exploitation of Chinese laborers working in harsh conditions with confiscated passports.

They posed an incisive question: "Can we really call this a 'small village' when cheap Chinese-made washing machines flood the African market at the cost of human rights abuses and severe environmental degradation in China?"

Resisting the Pull of Two Superpowers

Trump's exclusionary policies targeting foreigners and Chinese nationals may ultimately undermine America's own technological and economic progress. At the same time, it's undeniable that the CCP is actively working to infiltrate democratic societies. Ironically, the Chinese intellectual who wrote the critical article I translated cannot publish under their real name. With family still in China, they face the risk of threats and political persecution.

Back in 1989, during the Tiananmen Square Massacre, the Chinese government arrested intellectuals while the PLA turned its guns on citizens demanding freedom and democracy.

People gather in Taipei, Taiwan for a memorial rally in remembrance of the Tiananmen Square incident on the June 4, 2025. The lights are arranged in the shape of "8964" (1989 June 4), representing the date of the massacre. (©Sankei by Yoshiaki Nishimi)

In the years that followed, Japan and America sought to encourage political reform in China by integrating it into the international order. To do so, they maintained engagement with the Communist Party. Supported by the democratic world, China rose to become an economic superpower. Today, however, it poses a growing threat to regional stability in Asia and to global peace.

That said, Japan should avoid embracing the extreme measures seen under the Trump administration, such as cutting ties with China or treating all Chinese individuals as potential threats.

Instead, Japan ought to engage with Chinese citizens who share democratic values and acknowledge the challenges posed by the CCP's rule. By working with these allies, Japan can more effectively stand against authoritarianism and safeguard its national interests.

Author: Tomoko Ako

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