This article explains the true meaning of a “useful idiot”—a person who innocently believes they are doing good but is actually being exploited by political forces, especially authoritarian states like China. Citing a report by France’s IRSEM on Chinese influence operations, it details infiltration tactics, propaganda networks, academic manipulation, technology theft, and political recruitment. It warns that individuals, media, activists, and scholars who collaborate unwittingly become tools of foreign power. A must-read for Japan and the world.

Never Become a “Useful Idiot”

When I wondered what has been controlling this country since the end of the last great war, one phrase suddenly came to mind: “useful idiot.”
It may sound harmless to think, “Well, even an idiot can be useful, so isn’t that fine?”—but that is an extremely dangerous idea.

A “useful idiot” refers to people or groups who, in their innocence and believing they are doing something good, are in fact being used by specific political forces.
During the Cold War, it was used as a political term referring to pro-Soviet groups in Western nations.
Today, it likely applies to individuals and organizations enthusiastically promoting “friendship” and “cooperation” with China.

The problem is that the power of these useful idiots is not to be underestimated.
At times, they can misdirect the course of a nation and endanger the lives and property of its citizens.

A report warning precisely against such “useful idiots” was published this September:
the French Military School’s Institute for Strategic Research (IRSEM) study titled “Chinese Influence Operations.”

The essence of the operation is infiltration.
China quietly enters targeted institutions and, before the individuals involved even realize it, turns them into sympathizers of the Chinese Communist Party.
It is a tactic long used by the Soviet and Russian regimes.

Using the people they have ensnared, they obstruct or eliminate anyone who stands against the Party’s interests.
Dividing public opinion inside the target country is also a crucial mission.

The report analyzes propaganda activities conducted through overseas Chinese communities and foreign collaborators, infiltration of international organizations, and manipulation of information on the Internet.
The command center for these operations is the CCP’s United Front Work Department.

It carries out “political warfare”—public opinion warfare, psychological warfare, and legal warfare—while eliminating internal and external enemies and undermining anyone who challenges the Party’s authority.
Their efforts include sabotage operations and attempts to destroy the reputations of their opponents.

The report says that, to quietly conduct these operations, the CCP eagerly recruits “useful idiots.”

In politics, they target influential members of ruling and opposition parties, retired politicians, and major media.
In economics, they increase a country’s dependence on China and then impose embargoes, trade sanctions, or encourage consumer boycotts, forcing companies to submit.

In academia, they use Chinese students abroad to monitor fellow students, faculty, and university administrations.
They demand punishment of researchers critical of the CCP.
Under the guise of “joint research,” they steal other nations’ knowledge and advanced technologies.

Some researchers, believing they are doing pure academic work, unknowingly contribute to the development of weapons of mass destruction, advanced military systems, or surveillance technology used to oppress the Chinese people.
From the viewpoint of Chinese authorities, these scholars—recruited with generous funding—are the very definition of useful idiots.

The report also points out that China is encouraging independence movements in Okinawa and French New Caledonia.
It lists cases where independence activists are invited to China for “academic exchanges.”

All of this concerns the national security of the countries involved.
Under such circumstances, the question now being asked is this: Can we avoid becoming “useful idiots” for an authoritarian state like China?