The Okinawa Election Bullet Incident — Media Manipulation, Possible False-Flag Operations, and China’s Strategic Influence
In July 2022, during Japan’s House of Councillors election, a bullet struck a residence in Okinawa. While the U.S. military denied any involvement after technical examination, local media emphasized “U.S. military danger” before evidence was verified. A closely contested race subsequently ended with the defeat of the pro-base LDP candidate, raising concerns about strategic media influence and election interference.

The event has drawn scrutiny due to its timing and alignment with narratives promoted by China-aligned networks, including legal activist Sayo Saruta, All-Okinawa political movements, opposition parties, labor unions, and local media outlets. The incident may represent a coordinated psychological operation connected to broader political destabilization efforts targeting Japan’s security posture and the Japan-U.S. alliance.

During the final stage of the July 2022 House of Councillors election, a bullet was fired into a private residence in Okinawa.
The U.S. military immediately announced that inspections of its firing ranges confirmed all safety measures were in place and stated that an old corroded bullet could never have been fired from U.S. military weapons.
Despite this, some media outlets amplified the narrative of “U.S. military danger” before the cause was identified.

A new LDP candidate, who had been in a tight race against an anti-base incumbent, eventually lost by a narrow margin.
A senior LDP member commented:
“The cause was not clarified, yet the danger of the U.S. military was widely reported. If this influenced the election outcome, it is a serious problem.”

The author argues that this “Okinawa bullet incident” may not have been an isolated event, but rather strategically connected to other developments — including the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
From the beginning, I sensed a form of synchronization between these events — something beyond coincidence — and the latest facts reinforce that intuition.

At the center of this network are entities acting effectively as proxies of the Chinese Communist Party:
lawyer Sayo Saruta, the Japanese Communist Party, Constitutional Democratic Party, Jichirō (public-sector union), All-Okinawa political bloc, and the local media powerhouses Okinawa Times and Ryukyu Shimpo.
These groups have openly advanced narratives favorable to Beijing, including the push for “Okinawan independence.”

It is undeniable that China benefits from such outcomes.
Their efforts shape public sentiment against the Japan–U.S. security framework and weaken Japan’s strategic position in the Indo-Pacific.

The Asahi Shimbun eagerly amplified these narratives, effectively pressuring the Japanese government and influencing national discourse.

When viewed in context, the bullet incident raises the possibility of a false-flag operation, intended to manipulate public opinion and election results — rather than an accidental or spontaneous act.