A critical examination of NHK’s reporting choices, alleged Chinese propaganda such as the fake Italian balcony footage, and growing concerns in Europe and the U.S. about information manipulation during the COVID‑19 crisis.

On May 6, 2020, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying cited a People’s Daily report claiming that “the Chinese national anthem was sung in Rome and Italians shouted ‘Thank you, China.’” Later, several Italian media outlets pointed out that this story was fabricated.

In Japan, NHK—effectively the national public broadcaster—continues to raise questions with its reporting posture. Despite the world facing an unprecedented crisis, NHK and certain politicians seem unwilling to address the obvious issue: the origins of the virus in Wuhan. This reluctance is not unique to Japan; pro‑China politicians and scholars exist worldwide.

NHK’s “News Watch 9” frequently features commentator Arima, who in turn repeatedly brings in Ian Bremmer, known for his pro‑Democratic Party and anti‑Trump stance. If NHK truly considers itself a public broadcaster, it should seek comments from G6 leaders directly, rather than relying on selectively chosen commentators.

Meanwhile, WBS on TV Tokyo aired two striking examples of China‑related misinformation. The first was the alleged Italian balcony footage showing residents singing China’s national anthem in gratitude—revealed to be fake. The second was the Financial Times scoop about a propaganda letter from a Chinese consul general to a Wisconsin state legislative leader.

Despite these revelations, NHK has not reported them, instead continuing coverage that aligns more closely with narratives favorable to China. This raises serious concerns about the integrity of public broadcasting at a time when accurate international reporting is more crucial than ever.