This chapter reveals how China benefits from divisions in Okinawan public opinion over U.S. bases. Drawing on a U.S. congressional advisory report and reporting by Japanese journalist Yoshihisa Komori, it argues that Japanese media failed to inform the public of ongoing Chinese intelligence and political operations.
China has systematically exploited divisions over U.S. bases in Okinawa. According to a U.S. congressional advisory commission, Chinese intelligence and political operatives have monitored U.S. military activities and inflamed local discontent to weaken the U.S.–Japan alliance. The article argues that Japanese media silence enabled this strategic vulnerability.

2017-07-18
This chapter, too, is a continuation of the previous one, and it is another fact that the majority of the Japanese people have remained completely unaware of.
That is because media organizations such as the Asahi Shimbun and so-called scholars have never informed the public of this undeniable reality.
For that reason alone, it would not be an exaggeration to call them traitors or enemies of the nation.
With the exception of headings, emphasis in the text is mine.
China Smiles at a Divided Okinawan Public Opinion.
Another major issue in which public opinion determines national defense policy is the problem of U.S. military bases stationed in Okinawa.
For example, with the resumption of relocation construction in July 2016, fierce opposition once again flared up over the Takae helipad issue.
I will refrain from delving into claims that the helipad opposition consists largely of left-wing activists gathered from outside the prefecture or that they receive funding from organizations in China or South Korea, as I have not personally conducted reporting in Okinawa.
However, according to a report by the U.S. Congress’s advisory body, the U.S.–China Economic and Security Review Commission,
“China has purchased real estate near U.S. military bases in Okinawa by using specific organizations and investors as part of its efforts to weaken U.S. forces stationed there.”
“China has sent Chinese military intelligence operatives to collect U.S. military information in Okinawa, as well as political operatives to incite Japanese anti-base movements, with the aim of driving a wedge between Japan and the United States.”
“Chinese intelligence operatives in Okinawa constantly and covertly monitor U.S. military bases, observing details of U.S. military activities and investigating the state of cooperation with the Japan Self-Defense Forces.”
“Chinese political operatives endeavor to inflame Okinawan residents’ dissatisfaction and anger toward U.S. military bases. To that end, Chinese-related individuals often actually participate in anti-base rallies and demonstrations in Okinawa, thereby stirring anti-American sentiment, increasing skepticism toward the U.S.–Japan alliance, and attempting to disrupt security cooperation between Japan and the United States.”
In Japan, these matters were reported in detail by former Washington bureau chief of the Sankei Shimbun, Yoshihisa Komori, in the September 2016 issue of Seiron.
What I can state clearly is that the party most pleased by the situation in which opposition groups engaged in such intense resistance that arrests occurred, and public opinion became divided, is without question China.
There is no doubt that media organizations such as the Asahi Shimbun and so-called scholars have greatly assisted in creating this situation of divided public opinion by attacking the Japanese government.