EDITORIAL | Heads Must Roll at NHK for Chinese Broadcast Hijacking

NHK, Japan's national broadcasting entity, has completed its in-house investigation into unscripted comments by a Chinese contract staff member on its Chinese-language radio broadcasts. It has also announced disciplinary measures for managers involved in the problematic broadcasts. Those measures include requiring the resignation of the director in charge of international broadcasts.

During the broadcast in question, the Chinese news reader went on a rant, voicing provocative personal views. He said, for example, that the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa Prefecture are actually "Chinese territory." 

At a press conference earlier in September, NHK president Nobuo Inaba apologized. "This can be described as a case of 'broadcast hijacking.' It is an extremely serious situation," he admitted.

If that is so, aren't the punishments that have been handed out in the wake of this affair too lenient? 

Getting to the Root of the Problem

It would be troubling to see the case closed without clarifying the motive of the perpetrator.

During an August 19 news broadcast in Chinese, a male Chinese news reader began making unscripted remarks that lasted for about 20 seconds. They started after he finished reading a news item concerning graffiti defacing sites at Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo. His unscripted remarks, however, amounted to a litany of anti-Japan statements. Among them, he stated: "Remember the rape of Nanking. Remember the comfort women." 

The 48-year-old male staff member was on contract with an NHK-affiliated organization. What cannot be overlooked is the fact that, as the report notes, there were "advance indicators" of potential trouble. Yet, no action was taken. 

In fact, just before the broadcast in question, the same individual had kicked up a ruckus. He complained about the script and screamed angrily. Furthermore, he expressed concern about the reaction of the Chinese authorities. 

The facts of this case still need to be clarified. But when it comes to citizens of authoritarian countries, we must be aware that they can be subjected to pressure. That includes incitement to criminal behavior and coercion by their home governments.

Complete Failure of Management

No crisis management took place as the incident unfolded. Notably, there was a technical system in place to lower the microphone volume or otherwise respond if problematic comments were made. Nevertheless, the other staff members were unable to respond. 

This inability to immediately correct the broadcast or provide an explanation to viewers and the public was another problem. As a result, the response of those in charge was judged "inadequate." 

This debacle suggests that NHK is not worthy of being called a "public broadcaster."

International Broadcasts are Important

According to the investigation, the Chinese news reader had not made unscripted remarks in the three months prior to this outburst. But since there are no records from before that, it is unclear if he had done so in the past. NHK said that it was reviewing broadcasts by other staff members and in other foreign languages. Such a review must be thorough. 

The role of international broadcasts is great. They are designed to disseminate reliable information about Japan and protect its national interests. 

President Inaba admitted: "There should have been a heightened sense of crisis. However, there was a lack of such crisis consciousness in the international radio broadcasting workplaces."

Inaba himself will voluntarily forfeit half his pay for one month. But this is not an issue that can be resolved by making the director in charge a scapegoat. The situation at NHK as a whole has been called into question due to excessive expansion, including at affiliated units, and the failure of its organizational governance.

NHK has filed a lawsuit against the male staff member in question, seeking compensation for reputational damage. Criminal charges should also be filed to bring to light the full story behind this "hijacking." 

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(Read the editorial in Japanese.)

Author: Editorial Board, The Sankei Shimbun