Japan’s diplomatic corps has been on edge since Xue Jian, China’s consul general in Osaka, made a social-media post criticizing Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and referring to "stupid politicians" and the need to “chop off their dirty heads.” But as shocking as China’s wolf-warrior diplomacy and belligerent social media posts are, they’re not the only unsettling activity carried out by Chinese diplomats in Japan.
For years now, and with increasing frequency, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) consulates in Japan have been openly conducting a series of gray-zone activities that likely violate international law, strengthen the Chinese Communist Party’s “United Front” network in Japan and bolster its political mobilization capabilities for future operations.
When one thinks of China’s “gray-zone activities,” one generally thinks of paramilitary, law-enforcement or military coercion on sea or land –– such as China Coast Guard and maritime militia harassment or PLA air incursions –– designed to intimidate or harass other nations or push the boundaries of the PRC’s influence. But gray-zone activities also come in the form of supposed diplomatic outreach that is actually designed to undermine democratic institutions or social cohesion within a target country.
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