Commuters make their way to work Thursday in Tokyo. Japan’s infection numbers have remained low, but experts debate whether it’s because the country has tested fewer people. (Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images)

TOKYO — In East Asia, two rivals are grappling with the coronavirus pandemic in very different ways: mass testing versus targeted testing.

It's a debate over tactics that has profound implications in the United States and elsewhere, as health officials struggle to find the best methods to track and contain the virus.