A former Asahi Kasei employee was arrested on suspicion of leaking company secrets — reportedly tied to a latent hardener — to a Chinese firm. With materials technology seen as a Japanese strength, the case revived economic-security anxieties. Netizens overwhelmingly demanded an anti-espionage law and tougher penalties, while some pointed at low pay and lax retiree controls at companies.
A former BelGaN executive—a Belgian of Chinese origin—was arrested for allegedly leaking chip secrets to China, while a CGTN commentary questioned Okinawa's status and a swan-abuse clip spread online. None is a confirmed state operation, but together they sharpened Japanese demands for an anti-espionage law and vigilance against what many called 'cognitive warfare.'
About 50 tons of mud recovered off Minamitorishima was reported to contain medium and heavy rare earths making up roughly 54% of its total rare earth content, raising hopes of reducing dependence on China. On the same day, reports said Chinese tourists had shifted to South Korea after Beijing urged citizens to avoid Japan, and a 17-year-old influencer claimed China had fired nuclear weapons at Japan. Commenters swung between resource optimism, cost skepticism, and corrections of basic history.
Reports that China's drone giant DJI is recruiting Japanese optics engineers at nearly double domestic salaries collided with news of China's submarine-launched missile test and LDP veteran Seiichiro Murakami's call to adopt Chinese technology. Japanese netizens blamed domestic firms' poor treatment of engineers while voicing sharp wariness toward Beijing's military posture and pro-China politicians.