The piece proposes a strategic counter by expanding bilingual media, including videos and podcasts, to broaden reach and counter disinformation, and highlights a Tokyo gathering where finance and policy voices urged a stronger Japan.

It suggests plausible motives behind China’s disinformation drive, such as destabilizing Japanese politics, uniting its leadership under a common external threat, and diverting attention from China’s own economic woes.

A Japan Forward analysis argues that China is waging a state-led information war against Japan, using defamation, distortion, and falsehoods to shape public opinion about Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and the country.

Japan stresses the need for vigilant scrutiny of Chinese information and timely corrections to curb widespread misinformation.

The article frames Japan’s communications as essential for stability and peace in Asia, advocating frank dialogue with China while staying alert to misinformation.

Chinese state media misrepresented Prime Minister Takaichi’s Taiwan contingency remarks, including cartoons and claims she would deploy troops, which circulated internationally and were cited by outlets such as The Economist.