Japan’s lower house approved a bill on Thursday to upgrade Tokyo’s intelligence capacity, the latest step in Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s campaign to boost the nation’s defence and security apparatus.
Japanese officials have long argued that the nation needs to improve its intelligence capacity to deter foreign spies, prevent terrorism, safeguard sensitive technologies and improve national security.
Critics say Tokyo’s existing policies and law enforcement against espionage are too relaxed — even labelling the nation a “spies’ paradise”.
The issue has gained a renewed sense of urgency since a diplomatic row erupted with Beijing, after Takaichi suggested in November that Tokyo might intervene militarily in any Chinese attempt to take Taiwan.
China, which regards the democratic island as part of its territory and has not ruled out force to annex it, was furious over the comments.
Tokyo’s intelligence activities are currently scattered among various existing ministries, including the foreign ministry, the defence ministry and the police.
But under the bill — which will now go to the upper house for review — the government would upgrade an existing intelligence body to serve as the central command for collecting and analysing information related to security and public safety.
It cleared the lower house by a majority vote, with support also coming from key opposition parties.
Under the legislation, the National Intelligence Bureau would integrate information gathered by various ministries and report to the newly created National Intelligence Council, headed by the prime minister.
The change is necessary, Takaichi has said, “to ensure the efficient collection and effective utilisation of high-quality intelligence” for the government’s decision making.
Takaichi and her ruling bloc are also trying to push through separate anti-spying legislation.
Her critics have voiced concerns that the upgraded intelligence capacity might lead to the government’s overreach and infringe upon individual freedom and privacy.
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