Why is the Chinese Gov’t Allowing Anti-Japan Posts on Social Media?

このページを日本語で読む

Chinese social media is inundated with short videos that insult Japan and the memory of Emperor Hirohito, known as Emperor Showa since his death in 1989.

In China, people often insult others by comparing them to dogs. Among the recent insulting Chinese videos, those that depict the Emperor as a dog stand out. Some of the accompanying captions are so vulgar that they do not bear repeating.

The Chinese government tightly controls what is allowed to appear on China's social media platforms. Yet they have done nothing to stop these extremely inappropriate posts. Beijing must immediately halt the proliferation of these outrageous videos.

AI-Created Videos Run Rampant

Emperor Showa, the grandfather of His Majesty the Emperor, reigned during a turbulent era. Even today, many Japanese continue to revere his memory.

In Japan, the emperor is the head of state who constitutionally serves as the "symbol of the State and of the unity of the People." Videos that denigrate the memory of Emperor Hirohito are unforgivable. In essence, the emperor and the Japanese nation are one and the same. These videos are tantamount to insulting Japan itself.

The videos in question appear to have been generated using artificial intelligence, popularly known as AI. They are popping up one after another on video-sharing apps.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters at a press conference that Japan considers the videos "offensive." He urged the Chinese authorities "to deal appropriately with them." However, these moves alone do not sufficiently convey the intense anger of the Japanese people.

Why don't Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya directly protest to the Chinese government?

Call Out China's Insincerity

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told a press conference that "we are investigating the relevant circumstances." However, his statement does not seem in the least sincere.

In China, the government strictly controls all social media and deletes or blocks posts at will. Despite its iron grip, these offensive videos are rampant. The only conclusion to be drawn is that the Chinese government under Xi Jinping is intentionally allowing them to circulate.

If the intent of these videos is to pin responsibility for the war on Emperor Hirohito, they are completely misguided. The role of the emperor under the Meiji Constitution, in effect at that time, was to serve as a constitutional monarch.

Before, during, and after the war, Emperor Hirohito consistently expressed his desire for peace and friendship between Japan and China. The prevalence of such perverted videos also puts the focus on the character of the Chinese government and its people.

Furthermore, several anti-Japan films have been produced in China recently. A wildly popular movie about the "Nanjing Massacre" features numerous "atrocity photos" that have been criticized by outside observers as fabricated.

Comments from Chinese who have seen that movie, such as "I hate the Japanese," have flooded social media. The Japanese embassy in China has issued warnings to Japanese residents. We cannot help but worry about a resurgence of attacks on Japanese nationals.

The Xi administration should desist from its foolish incitement of anti-Japan sentiment.

Author: Editorial Board, The Sankei Shimbun

このページを日本語で読む