宗方小太郎的新闻工作与情报活动

News Work and Information Activities of MunakataKotarō

宗方小太郎是近代早期来华的日本间谍报人中的典型代表,他凭借甲午战争中的"功绩"成为日本当局对华问题的重要高参,在中国活动近40年,撰写大量报告,为日本制定对华政策提供重要依据;他最早意识到新闻宣传在扩大日本在华利益中的重要作用,创办、主持或协助创办了多份报刊,并出任外务省在华官方通信社"东方社"首任社长,成为近代早期日本在华间谍报人的"总闸"。报人身份既是他公开活动的掩护,也是他情报工作的依托,他以这一身份接近中国士人,得以刺探情报或直接干涉中国事务。他的一生,乃是近代早期来华的日本间谍报人的缩影。

As a typical representative of Japanese spies who came to China in the early modern times, MunakataKotarō became an important participant of Japanese authorities against China by virtue of his "achievements" in the First Sino Japanese war. During his 40 years of activities in China, he wrote a large number of reports, which provided an important basis for Japan to formulate its policies towards China. He was the first to realize that news propaganda was an important work in expanding Japan’s interests in China. He founded, presided over or assisted in the establishment of a number of newspapers and magazines, and became the first president of Oriental News Agency, the official communication agency of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in China, becoming the "main gate" for Japanese spies in China in the early modern times. The identity of the reporter is not only the cover of his open activities, but also the support of his intelligence work. In this identity, he approached Chinese scholars and was able to spy on intelligence or directly interfere in Chinese affairs. His life was the epitome of the Japanese spy reporter who came to China in early modern times.