The Chinese Communist Party employs transnational harassment and intimidation tactics to deter Chinese individuals residing in Japan from engaging in protests and activities aimed at protecting their rights. Figure 1. (Video screenshot)
[People News] A Chinese student studying in Japan has recently been accused of maliciously maxing out several credit cards, defaulting on rent and utility bills, and then fleeing back to China, prompting public concern and strong condemnation from the Chinese-speaking community. Following the exposure of this incident, many overseas Chinese are worried that the immoral actions of a few individuals could negatively affect the reputation of the entire Chinese community, with many netizens expressing their disgust at this 'one rotten apple spoils the whole barrel' behaviour.
A Chinese netizen currently living in Japan posted on Chinese social media that a student from Chongqing had applied for multiple credit cards from institutions such as PayPay, 7-Eleven, and JCB just before leaving Japan, maxing them all out prior to departure while also defaulting on several months of rent and utility fees. The student then cancelled their visa and returned to China.
The netizen who revealed this situation stated that the individual borrowed approximately 60,000 yen from them and has not repaid it, with both parties having lost contact for over two months. It was only when the netizen passed by the individual's residence that they discovered the landlord was clearing out leftover belongings, which informed them that the person had already left the country. The netizen subsequently reported the case to the police and uploaded relevant videos, indicating that the case is now under police investigation.
After the news spread, it quickly gained traction online, with many Chinese netizens expressing their dissatisfaction and criticising the behaviour for harming the community's image and potentially impacting other law-abiding students studying abroad.
The misdeeds of a student from Shizhu County, Chongqing, were exposed online during their time studying in Japan. (Internet photo)
According to reports from Hong Kong media, many Chinese netizens have condemned this outrageous behaviour, describing it as 'extremely lacking in quality,' 'having no limits in terms of decency while feeling proud,' and stating that 'this kind of fool truly leaves no escape route for themselves.' They are also concerned that other Chinese students or those planning to study in Japan may suffer consequences from this, 'blocking the paths for both predecessors and future generations,' and 'bringing shame to the Chinese community.'
The report highlighted that the Chinese student even boasted in a post, saying: 'I escaped, brothers, I escaped. I maxed out several credit cards and then went straight back to my country. I have PayPay cards, 7-11 cards, and JCB cards. I don't care about a few months' rent, water bills, or electricity bills. It doesn't matter if I receive payment reminders or lawyer letters. As long as I let my residence card expire, I can just return home. As for whether other Chinese individuals in Japan will struggle to obtain credit cards or rent homes in the future, I don't care. Anyway, even if I attend a language school for two years, I won't be able to get into university.'
According to statistics from the Japanese Immigration Services Agency, by the end of 2023, the number of Chinese individuals holding residence status in Japan had reached 820,000, an increase of 60,000 from the previous year, marking a new historical high and surpassing the pre-pandemic peak. A prior report by Nikkei Asia indicated that this number is expected to exceed one million by 2026.
In fact, similar incidents are not isolated cases.
According to The Dajiyuan, Canadian independent commentator Shen Gongzi recently shared a post and related videos on the X platform, revealing that when a Chinese international student moved out of their accommodation in Japan, the landlord found a large amount of garbage left behind. He remarked, 'Not all international students behave this way, but it does raise questions about why similar incidents seem to occur so frequently among Chinese students. There are certainly issues with their education in China.'
When a Chinese international student in Japan moved out, this is what the landlord found. Of course, not everyone is like this, but it does make you wonder why similar incidents seem to happen so often with Chinese students. Something is wrong with their education back in China.
— Terence Shen (@Terenceshen) March 20, 2026pic.twitter.com/HSpgGwK4pd
In 2024, a case emerged in the United States involving a Chinese international student who accumulated around $140,000 in cash advances on credit cards before departing the country. This incident sparked widespread discussion after the individual boasted about it online. The story quickly spread across social media platforms, capturing the attention of local public opinion.
The video related to this incident resonated with many online, leaving some members of the Chinese community feeling both heartbroken and helpless. One netizen expressed, 'This is truly a case of the predecessors cutting down trees, while the later generations suffer the consequences.'
Some international students in the U.S. reported that following the escalation of this incident, certain financial institutions had tightened their credit assessment standards for Chinese international students. This included requirements for deposits or additional guarantees, and the thresholds for credit card applications were noticeably higher than before.
Analysts suggest that once a specific group is labelled as a credit risk, financial institutions and landlords may be inclined to evaluate individuals based on group characteristics rather than personal credit history. This could adversely affect the overall living and development conditions of the group abroad. Signs of this phenomenon have already appeared in some countries, raising concerns about its potential spread to other regions.
Moreover, recent videos and comments circulating online have heightened external scrutiny. Some commentators noted that while individual cases do not represent the entire community, the frequent emergence of negative incidents does indeed place pressure on the image of Chinese international students. Public opinion generally holds that maintaining good credit and a positive public image abroad has become a crucial issue that the international student community must confront. △
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