As the Japanese government struggles to address long-standing economic problems, the ''China threat'' has become a convenient way to deflect domestic frustration, according to a former Japanese official. In recent years, Japan's economy has struggled with a weak yen, rising import costs, and higher living expenses. In an interview with China Media Group (CMG) on Thursday, Ukeru Magosaki, a former official at Japan's Foreign Ministry, said that the root cause of the prevailing antagonism toward China is public dissatisfaction with the country's economic status quo. Magosaki noted that Japan's rising hostility toward China is not simply a product of political rhetoric, but also a reflection of how economic anxieties are being manipulated. Shotlist: Tokyo, Japan - Nov 13, 2025: FILE: Tokyo, Japan - Date Unknown 1. Aerial shot of cityscape, traffic; FILE: Tokyo, Japan - April 2024 2. Various of pedestrians, traffic; Tokyo, Japan - Nov 13, 2025 3. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Ukeru Magosaki, former Japanese Foreign Ministry official (ending with shots 4-6): "Japan's economic situation is far from optimistic. Conditions for low-income groups are worsening. Directing public dissatisfaction toward external issues is the simplest way to manage it."; FILE: Tokyo, Japan - Date Unknown 4. Various of traffic, pedestrians; FILE: Saitama Prefecture, Japan - 2025 5. Consumers shopping in budget supermarket; FILE: Tokyo Metropolis, Japan - 2025 6. Various of consumers shopping in supermarket, vegetables for sale; Tokyo, Japan - Nov 13, 2025 7. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Ukeru Magosaki, former Japanese Foreign Ministry official (ending with shot 8): "This is not only driven by certain right-wing forces. Many people's economic frustrations are being artificially tied to a supposed 'China threat.' That is the key point. This way, domestic discontent is redirected and absorbed. A mechanism like this has taken shape."; Tokyo, Japan - Oct 21, 2025 8. Various of pedestrians, traffic; FILE: Tokyo, Japan - Date Unknown 9. Aerial shots of cityscape, traffic. [Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]