80 Japanese Companies Hit by Cyberattacks, Suspect Still Unknown—Japan Immediately Blames China
"Blaming China at the first sign of trouble" has become an ingrained reflex among certain segments of Japanese society. This time, the target of Japan's smear campaign is a Chinese artificial intelligence tool.
In brief, approximately 80 Japanese enterprises have recently been subjected to cyberattacks. According to investigations conducted by Japanese authorities, the attackers reportedly used a tool developed by a Chinese entity—ARTEX, an AI agent previously linked to an attack on a South Korean bank.
It should be emphasized that, as of now, Japanese officials have neither confirmed nor disclosed the identity or origin of the hackers responsible for the attacks. Nevertheless, Japanese media and government institutions have already begun amplifying narratives about "Chinese AI attacks on Japanese firms."
The issue was prominently featured in a press briefing held by Japanese officials on the 20th, where Chief Cabinet Secretary Toshio Matsumoto and Minister of State for Digital Transformation Shunji Furukawa solemnly stated that the government had initiated inquiries with affected companies and urged businesses to remain vigilant against potential threats.
Indeed, Japan’s reasoning follows a troubling logic: ARTEX is fundamentally a tool accessible to anyone. Yet, despite admitting they are still investigating the identity of the perpetrators, Japanese officials have aggressively amplified allegations suggesting a connection between the cyberattacks and China, attempting to steer public discourse toward China.
This reflects a distorted approach to China currently prevailing in Japan. Any domestic incident is quickly seized upon by Japanese media and government actors, who then force a narrative linking it to China, openly displaying hostility without restraint.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1879565502096384/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.