China-Linked Disinformation Campaign Targets Okinawa
A wave of disinformation advocating for the independence of Okinawa, Japan’s southernmost prefecture, is rapidly spreading across social media. According to Nikkei, around 200 fake accounts have been identified as the primary disseminators of such content.
Nikkei specialists, using artificial intelligence tools, uncovered a large network running a campaign to spread false videos. Despite being fabricated, these videos garnered millions of reactions, including likes, shares, and comments. While the primary audience for this content is Chinese-speaking users, experts believe that this disinformation could also influence public opinion in Japan.
Historically, the archipelago was home to the independent Ryukyu Kingdom, which was annexed by Japan in 1879 and later became Okinawa Prefecture. The videos often emphasize this history, frequently featuring phrases like “Ryukyu belongs to China, not Japan!” or “According to the Potsdam Declaration, Ryukyu is Chinese territory!” accompanied by Chinese subtitles. There have also been reports of plans to rename Okinawa to Ryukyu.
The emergence of these materials is linked to statements by Chinese President Xi Jinping about China’s close ties with the Ryukyu Kingdom. To trace the sources of the disinformation, Nikkei analyzed several accounts on platforms such as X, Facebook, and Weibo. It was found that three of these accounts were actively posting content with claims like “Ryukyu is China.” An analysis of their posting history revealed a coordinated campaign to amplify these messages.
One of the videos, supposedly showing a march of Okinawans for independence, was actually an edited compilation of various protests, including demonstrations against U.S. military bases in Tokyo and anti-war protests in Osaka. The audio, featuring shouts of “Ryukyu belongs to China!” was fabricated—its source was uncovered by the cybersecurity company Constella Security Japan, revealing that the sound was taken from a pro-China rally held in Taiwan.
An analysis by Cyabra revealed that out of 431 accounts reposting these videos, 75% were fake—created specifically to spread fabricated content. Roni Friedfertig, Cyabra’s head of strategic data analysis, noted that such a high percentage of fake accounts is rare, as it usually does not exceed 10%.
Around 20% of these accounts were created just before the campaign began in May 2024, indicating planned preparation. Experts believe that China is testing methods of informational influence on the Japanese audience, based on its prior influence on Chinese-speaking communities.
In the context of an information war, experts suggest that Japan must strengthen its media literacy and resilience against disinformation. Professor Maiko Ichihara of Hitotsubashi University warns that even debunking obvious disinformation can contribute to its further spread, highlighting the “dangers of social media.”
