What is Japan’s new intelligence agency, and why is Tokyo building it?
- Japan is setting up its first centralised intelligence agency since World War II to try to modernise its defence capabilities against spies, foreign interference and other attacks from foreign adversaries.
- Legislation to establish the new agency passed the upper house of Japan’s National Diet in May, a month after it cleared the lower house.
- After decades of relying on US intelligence support and after a pacifist stance was enshrined in the Japanese Constitution, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi described this law as “a first step” towards strengthening the country’s espionage capabilities.
Unverified
- Japan is setting up its first centralised intelligence agency since World War II to try to modernise its defence capabilities against spies, foreign interference and other attacks from foreign adversaries.
- Legislation to establish the new agency passed the upper house of Japan’s National Diet in May, a month after it cleared the lower house.
- After decades of relying on US intelligence support and after a pacifist stance was enshrined in the Japanese Constitution, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi described this law as “a first step” towards strengthening the country’s espionage capabilities.
Sources: Al Jazeera