Japan is setting up its first central intelligence agency since the Second World War amid growing threats from China, Russia and North Korea. For this, the government of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has sought guidance from western countries like America, Australia and Germany.
Japan is making an ambitious effort to set up its first centralized intelligence agency since World War II, and is seeking guidance from Western allies including the United States, Australia and Germany amid growing security threats from China, Russia and North Korea, The New York Times (NYT) reported.
According to the NYT, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s government has privately consulted with partners in recent months on issues such as technology, staffing and operational priorities for the proposed intelligence agency.
Japan is taking help from western countries
News reports said United States intelligence officials have provided input on cyber defense systems, countering industrial espionage, and strengthening investigations into foreign investments and agents operating in Japan.
News reports say Germany has also joined the discussions, and the head of the country’s Foreign Intelligence Service (BND) recently visited Tokyo to discuss the planned agency and ways to increase intelligence sharing between the two countries.
According to The New York Times, Australia has advised Japan on technology as well as strategies to improve coordination between government ministries and encourage intelligence sharing.
Why did Japan need a new agency?
News reports noted that Japan’s intelligence system has traditionally been fragmented, with defense officials, diplomats, police and other agencies gathering and analyzing information separately, limiting coordination and leaving the country vulnerable to espionage and foreign interference.
The proposed agency is part of Prime Minister Takaichi’s broader effort to strengthen Japan’s national security architecture as Tokyo faces growing challenges from China, Russia and North Korea.
The New York Times said Takaichi has already lifted restrictions on arms exports and stepped up Japan’s largest post-war defense buildup. His government is now trying to protect state secrets, critical technologies, and combat foreign influence campaigns, especially those linked to China.
The news report cited Citizen Lab researchers as saying that China has created websites masquerading as Japanese-language news outlets to spread pro-Beijing disinformation.
Andrew Shearer, Australia’s ambassador to Japan and former director-general of national intelligence, told The New York Times that Japanese officials believe the country’s intelligence capabilities are “frozen in time for decades.”
“It’s a great thing that the prime minister has chosen to make this a priority, and she’s investing the political capital to make it happen,” he said.
According to The New York Times, the Japanese government declined to comment on whether it was seeking assistance from foreign governments to establish the agency, saying only that it “regularly maintains close cooperation with counterparts in the countries concerned.”
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Asianet Newsable English staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)