Japan’s “National Intelligence Agency” is Approaching

A bill to establish a “National Intelligence Agency,” pushed by the Sanae Takaichi cabinet, passed the House of Representatives on the 23rd and will be transferred to the House of Councillors for a vote. The bill has sparked widespread concern in Japanese society.

According to the bill, Japan plans to build an intelligence system centered on the “National Intelligence Council” and with the “National Intelligence Agency” as its executive body. This agency would be responsible for coordinating intelligence activities in areas such as security, counter-terrorism, and “foreign intelligence activities” involving foreign espionage. The “National Intelligence Agency” would also be granted comprehensive coordinating authority to request intelligence from various government ministries and agencies.

Japanese media generally believe that although the ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and the Japan Innovation Party does not hold a majority in the House of Councillors, the bill is expected to pass in the House of Councillors due to the support of some opposition parties, thus potentially completing the legislative process within the current Diet session.

According to Kyodo News, Sanae Takaichi has consistently sought to strengthen Japan’s intelligence capabilities. The report states that after the bill establishing a “National Intelligence Agency” officially takes effect, Takashi City will also fully launch legislative work on an “Anti-Espionage Law” and conduct special discussions on establishing an independent foreign intelligence agency.

Currently, concerns about the potential infringement of privacy and freedom of speech by this bill continue to escalate within Japan. Keio University Professor Emeritus Katsu Kaneko posted on social media on the 23rd: “The Takashi City government is attempting to cover up Japan’s impending economic collapse through constitutional revision and militarization, and now it is restricting freedom of speech and suppressing social voices; all of this is ‘repeating past mistakes.'”

Social Democratic Party leader Mizuho Fukushima pointed out in a media interview on the 22nd that although the government claims it will not arbitrarily investigate “ordinary citizens,” the line between “ordinary citizens” and “non-ordinary citizens” remains unclear, which is very worrying, and the bill itself has flaws.

Japanese media have also recently widely pointed out that the government needs to fully explain the necessity of strengthening intelligence functions and face up to its potentially serious impact.