The professional gaming community may seem large, but it can also feel incredibly small for those who are well-connected—like fish in water with information flowing freely. For those out of the loop, however, it's vast and murky. Chinese players are experts at networking and even if unable to penetrate certain circles, bribing insiders for information is not a problem. Therefore, Japan's scheme to unite against the China Region was hardly a secret. News of their hurried messages being sent all over the Ancient City Ruins quickly reached the professionals in the China Region.
It's undeniable; there's hardly any true fairness in offline esports competitions. However, this also serves as a comprehensive test of the skills of both the players on the field and their teams off it.