In August, India and Japan finalized a significant human resources partnership, agreeing to facilitate the exchange of 500,000 people over the next five years, including 50,000 skilled and semi-skilled Indian workers who will be employed in Japan.
Recently, popular online Chinese commentator Zhangjie addressed the issue in a Bilibili video where he framed it as a geopolitical move aimed at limiting Chinese influence in Japan.
The commentator pointed out that only 10% of the exchange are considered skilled workers. The rest, he argues, will be low-wage labor brought in to address Japan’s aging population and labor shortage. He claims that Japan prefers to recruit Indian workers rather than Chinese migrants because Japan is wary of the growing number of highly educated Chinese who seek to immigrate and advance professionally in Japan.
The commentator further argues that many Indian workers, shaped by India’s caste system, are more willing to accept low-status, physically demanding jobs, while Chinese workers typically use education as a way to climb the social ladder. From his perspective, Japan’s initiative to bring in Indian labor is not just about economics but also a strategic effort to replace Chinese workers in Japan’s labor market.
He goes on to warn Chinese audiences that Japan will never truly welcome Chinese immigration, emphasizing that Japan’s friendliness toward China is limited and temporary. As an example, he points to the past when many people from Shanghai went to Japan as students but ended up working low-end jobs such as dishwashing or even handling corpses to make money. Today, he notes, some people in Shanghai earn more than average Japanese salaries, so they are less willing to accept low-status work in Japan.
The commentator also connects this labor agreement to broader geopolitics, arguing that Japan’s move is a diplomatic gesture to India. He suggests Japan aims to strengthen ties with India as part of a long-term strategy to build an alliance that can counterbalance China. In his view, India is becoming increasingly important on the world stage with backing from Western countries, and now Japan is also signaling support.
Why Is This Important? The reaction to Japan’s labor deal with India reveals a growing tension inside China. Even as geopolitical rivalry deepens and public opinion hardens toward Japan, a segment of Chinese professionals and students still view Japan as a desirable destination for education, work, or long-term immigration.
The commentary behind this story speaks directly to that group, warning them that Japan’s labor and immigration policies are shifting away from reliance on China and toward India. It frames Japan’s move as a signal: China is no longer the preferred partner, and Chinese migrants may find themselves increasingly marginalized in Japan’s future.
