3,000 X Accounts Criticize Japan in Suspected Chinese Influence Operation (UPDATE 1)　

The Yomiuri Shimbun

15:43 JST, February 23, 2026 (updated at 16:00 JST)

A group of about 3,000 accounts on X has posted and reposted criticism of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Japanese policies since mid-January, before official campaigning started for the House of Representatives election, a survey by a social media analysis company has found.

Based on the nature of these accounts and posts, this may be a Chinese influence operation. The aim appears to be to sow division in Japan and undermine the country’s international standing.

The survey was conducted by Japan Nexus Intelligence Inc., a company based in Tokyo that analyzes online discussions. The group of X accounts became active about a week before official campaigning kicked off on Jan. 27. Posts and reposts in Japanese and English claimed, “The prime minister is buying votes from the Unification Church” (formally the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification), “The prime minister has paved the way for military buildup and historical revisions” and “Young people will bear a growing burden from social security.”

The survey found that there are about 3,000 accounts in total, with around 1,000 making posts and about 2,000 reposting. Account names show patterns and commonalities, such as combining katakana and kanji. Many of the accounts that reposted were created between Jan. 19 and 24.

Some posts in Japanese showed traces of translation, and some hashtags include simplified Chinese characters or unnatural Japanese. Posts used images from Chinese blogs and state media as well as images likely created with AI.

Each account posted, reposted or made replies somewhere between once and several times. Nasa Tatsuguchi, head analyst at Japan Nexus Intelligence, said, “Making a massive number of posts from a single account risks detection and suspension by platforms for fraudulent activity. It appears numerous accounts are used to limit posting volume for a single account.”

“The activities are still continuing, suggesting this is a long-term operation,” Tatsuguchi added.

Kyoko Kuwahara, a researcher at the Japan Institute of International Affairs specializing in influence operations, said, “While those behind the operations cannot be definitively identified, the narrative aligns closely with the consistent anti-Japan criticism from the Chinese Communist Party and the Chinese government. This appears to be an effort to undermine Takaichi’s credibility and exploit social divisions.”