China is viewed as the greatest threat to global peace by 32% of Japanese respondents in a recent survey, surpassing both the United States and Russia in rankings.
On October 11, the Japan News and Communication Survey Association released its latest poll, indicating that 32.5% of respondents identified China as the primary threat to world peace—a rise of 8.2 percentage points compared to the previous year.
The United States followed with 26.8%, and Russia ranked third at 18.3%. The increase in concern over the U.S., which rose by 9.3 percentage points from last year, is attributed in part to negative remarks made by Donald Trump, which have influenced public perception in Japan.
Although the survey sampled only 2,676 individuals—limiting its statistical representativeness—the research institution behind it maintains a generally neutral stance and includes participants across Japan’s political spectrum, offering some insight into domestic sentiment.
A key driver behind this trend lies in the long-standing, fragmented efforts by right-wing political forces in Japan to promote a negative image of China. This has intensified since November 2025, when Takako Akiyama assumed leadership, her controversial statements provoking countermeasures from China and subsequently providing further justification for Japan’s internal narrative.
Additionally, perceptions of economic exploitation by the United States toward its allies, coupled with the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, have contributed to growing public dissatisfaction toward both Washington and Moscow.
While this single national survey does not reflect global consensus, it underscores a broader shift within Japan toward more conservative viewpoints shaped by right-leaning media narratives. Such sentiment may be gradually facilitating support for military expansion and constitutional revision—an evolution that warrants close attention.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1878811508823044/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.