TOKYO, July 31 (Bernama-Kyodo) — Japan launched its new National Intelligence Bureau on Friday as part of efforts by the government of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to strengthen the country’s intelligence capabilities and pursue counterespionage legislation, Kyodo News reported.
Its establishment follows the enactment of a law in May creating the bureau and the National Security Council, a central command body headed by the prime minister and nine other Cabinet ministers.
The launch of both bodies paves the way for counterespionage legislation, which the government under Takaichi, a national security hawk, says is needed to respond to increasingly complex overseas threats.
The bureau serves as the council’s secretariat and will coordinate intelligence gathered by the National Police Agency, the Foreign Ministry, the Defence Ministry and other organisations, with the authority to require them to share information.
An upgraded version of the Cabinet Intelligence and Research Office, it has about 730 staff, the same as its predecessor.
Kazuya Hara, who had served as director of Cabinet intelligence since June 2023, assumed the post of the bureau’s director Friday. He previously held senior positions at the NPA, including head of its Security Bureau, and served as an executive secretary to then Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
The government is expected to establish an expert panel under the council by autumn to discuss counterespionage legislation for submission to next year’s regular Diet session.
Bills likely to be discussed include legislation to establish a system for registering agents of foreign governments engaged in lobbying activities, as well as measures to establish Japan’s own foreign intelligence agency.
Takaichi’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party also compiled proposals Tuesday for intelligence-related legislation, including penalties for those involved in foreign influence operations and legislation to expand communications interceptions for national security purposes.
The ramp-up in intelligence activities has drawn concern from some opposition lawmakers over whether the two bodies can remain politically neutral and whether planned legislation could infringe on people’s privacy.
— BERNAMA-KYODO