DistantNews
Support us
🇹🇼 Taiwan /Culture & Society

Not Just Taiwan Suffers! Japanese Youth Invited to China Discover 'Meticulously Designed Brainwashing Itinerary'

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • A Japanese investigative report revealed that Japanese youth invited to China were subjected to a meticulously designed "brainwashing program."
  • The program involved visiting politically charged sites and using China's official narrative on issues like Okinawa and Taiwan.
  • The report highlights that such tactics are familiar in Taiwan, which has been a frequent target of similar activities.

A recent investigative report in Japan's 'Weekly Post' has exposed a carefully orchestrated "brainwashing infiltration activity" targeting Japanese youth invited to visit China. The findings, detailed by veteran China observer Yasuda Mineyoshi, reveal that participants in the "Asia Peace and Future Youth Visit to China" program were subjected to a highly controlled itinerary.

The entire itinerary was actually a meticulously designed 'brainwashing infiltration activity.'

— Yasuda MineyoshiDescribing the nature of the youth visit program to China, as reported by Yasuda Mineyoshi.

Approximately 40 Japanese students from prestigious universities, including the University of Tokyo and Waseda University, accepted the invitation last summer. Their trip, fully funded by China for flights, accommodation, and meals, initially appeared to be a standard exchange. However, students later realized the program was designed to promote China's political agenda.

During pre-trip briefings, participants were presented with China's official narratives on sensitive issues such as the Okinawa problem and Taiwan. Upon arrival in China, the itinerary included visits to politically charged locations like the 731 Unit Museum and the War of Chinese People's Resistance Against Japanese Aggression Museum. Students were housed in high-end hotels and kept under constant supervision, with limited free time and no opportunity to experience authentic Chinese society.

This kind of practice is not unfamiliar to Taiwanese people. Taiwan is a major victim of these brainwashing activities.

— Yaita AkioVeteran journalist Yaita Akio drawing parallels between the Japanese youth program and similar activities targeting Taiwan.

Following their return, some students were even arranged to meet with Chinese Ambassador to Japan Wu Jianghao at the Chinese Embassy. The hosting organization, the China International Friendship Liaison Association, is reportedly affiliated with the People's Liberation Army's political work system, indicating a clear political motive behind the exchange. Veteran journalist Yaita Akio noted that such tactics are not unfamiliar to Taiwan, which has frequently been the target of similar "brainwashing activities" organized by China over the years.

If you can only see what the other side wants you to see, and only hear what the other side wants you to hear, then it is not an exchange, but a cognitive warfare.

— Yaita AkioYaita Akio commenting on the nature of controlled exchanges and their potential impact on perception.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog