“Strengthening intelligence capabilities is a matter of the utmost urgency,” Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae said regarding the need for a new national espionage network. Japan is working to establish its first centralised network of intelligence operations since World War II to counter military build-ups in China and North Korea, ABC reported.
Fragmentation in Current Intelligence Gathering
Japan’s existing intelligence system is fragmented across police, defence, and foreign affairs departments, which often fail to share information across agencies. Osawa Jun, a senior research fellow at the Nakasone Peace Institute and member of a government expert panel, told ABC that the current system has failed to ensure the nation carries out intelligence analysis in a coordinated manner.
Prime Minister Takaichi cited several specific threats driving the need for reform:
- Military build-ups in China and North Korea.
- Increased cooperation between China and Russia, and between Russia and North Korea.
- Unauthorised leakage of cutting-edge technology involving foreign agents.
- Cyber attacks on public and private sectors.
- Disinformation campaigns designed to manipulate public opinion.
Proposed Architecture for a Japanese CIA
The government aims to create an independent foreign intelligence agency similar to the U.S. CIA or Britain’s MI6. According to a ruling party policy document, the agency should be operational by early 2028 and must maximise limited human resources to be effective immediately upon establishment.
Japan has already established a National Intelligence Bureau and a new overarching security council headed by the prime minister. Osawa Jun stated that gathering intelligence abroad is necessary if Japan is to possess capabilities on par with the U.S. or the U.K.
Internal Debate Over Intelligence Scope
While the push for a new agency grows, some former officials caution against mirroring foreign models exactly. Kitamura Shigeru, a former national security chief, argued that Japan should build on existing international counterterrorism capabilities rather than starting from zero.
Kitamura described secret intelligence gathering as an “indispensable function” of a modern state, noting that Japan cannot depend entirely on information from allies. However, he warned that the new architecture should not simply import every function of foreign services and must avoid engaging in political manipulation or subversion overseas.
Australia as a Model for Scale
Japan has examined the intelligence systems and foreign interference laws of France, the U.K., the U.S., and Australia. Tomohiko Satake of Aoyama Gakuin University told ABC that Australia serves as a “good model” for Japan due to the scale of its intelligence ability. Satake suggested that Japan can cooperate with Australia on how to establish its intelligence community.
Japan Faces Laws and Training Hurdles for New Agency
Establishing the agency requires more than just a mandate. Osawa Jun identified several significant challenges that remain:
- Enacting laws to enable concrete intelligence-gathering and countermeasures.
- Establishing the necessary government agencies.
- Training personnel capable of executing these tasks.
- Securing public support and establishing democratic oversight.
Japan’s Intelligence Transition
| Current System | Proposed 2028 System |
|---|---|
| Fragmented (Police, Defence, Foreign Affairs) | Centralised Independent Agency |
| Limited cross-agency sharing | Coordinated national analysis |
| Reliance on ally-supplied data | Independent foreign intelligence gathering |
Common Questions About Japan’s Intelligence Shift
Why is Japan creating this agency now?
Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae cited the military build-up of China and North Korea, as well as strengthened cooperation between Russia and its neighbours, as urgent drivers for the change.
How does the proposed agency differ from existing bureaus?
Unlike the current fragmented system, the proposed agency would be an independent foreign intelligence body focused on gathering information abroad, similar to the CIA.
What is the timeline for implementation?
A policy document from the ruling party sets the goal for the agency to be established by early 2028.
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