Japan's Accelerated Push for "Re-Militarization" Raises Concerns Abroad

Reference News Network reported on August 2 According to Kyodo News on July 31, the Japanese government held the first meeting of the "National Intelligence Conference," designated as an intelligence activity command tower, at the Prime Minister's official residence on July 31. The meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and consisted of nine ministers, including Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno, and was held behind closed doors. The "National Intelligence Agency," which will serve as the secretariat, was also established on the same day. In addition to beginning to formulate the first guidelines on intelligence activities, tentatively named the "National Intelligence Strategy," the government also officially discussed legal improvements aimed at preventing espionage activities.

Matsuno introduced at a press conference that the first meeting confirmed operational guidelines for the future, including intelligence protection.

The National Intelligence Agency was established by upgrading the "Cabinet Intelligence and Research Office" and is granted comprehensive coordination authority to request intelligence from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defense, and other departments.

The position of Director of the National Intelligence Agency was appointed to Kazuyoshi Hara, a Cabinet intelligence officer. The initial organizational scale of the agency is comparable to that of the Cabinet Intelligence and Research Office, with about 730 personnel.

During the parliamentary review process, concerns were raised about the protection of personal information and privacy, as well as ensuring political neutrality. How to prevent excessive intelligence activities from infringing on basic human rights in the operation of this agency will become a topic of discussion.

According to a report by Bloomberg News on July 30, Japan had efficient domestic and foreign intelligence agencies before and during World War II, operated by the special police department "Tokko" and the "Military Police." The radical measures taken by these agencies (including the use of violence) made them detested by the public.

After the war, both of these departments were disbanded. Since then, successive Japanese governments have taken a cautious approach to measures aimed at strengthening surveillance over the public. In 1985, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party failed to pass legislation prohibiting the surveillance and collection of national secrets due to concerns that it would infringe on personal rights and freedoms.

The center-left opposition parties oppose the Japanese government's latest move to establish the National Intelligence Agency, arguing that it may infringe on personal privacy and expand government power without democratic oversight.

According to a report by Sputnik News on July 31, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated at a regular press conference on July 31 regarding Japan's establishment of the National Intelligence Agency that this is another negative trend in Japan's internal and external security policy.

Mao Ning pointed out that this is another negative trend in Japan's internal and external security policy. Historically, Japanese intelligence agencies paved the way for Japan to fully implement militarism and launch external aggressive wars, committing unforgivable crimes against neighboring Asian countries and the Japanese people.

The spokesperson stated that recently, Japan has accelerated its "remilitarization" process under the pretext of so-called "external security threats," threatening regional peace and stability, which has raised widespread concerns in the international community. Japanese policymakers should deeply learn from historical lessons and act cautiously.

According to a report by Singapore's Lianhe Zaobao on July 31, the Chinese Ministry of Defense responded to questions related to Japan's National Intelligence Agency and intelligence system the day before the agency was established, stating: "The Japanese ruling authorities are using the so-called 'security threats' as an excuse to vigorously promote the centralization and militarization of intelligence agencies, which is closely linked to a series of military expansion and armament trends, essentially creating an intelligence system that serves military expansion and war preparation, posing significant risks to peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific and the world. The international community must remain highly vigilant about this." (Translation by Liu Lin, Hu Wei, Chen Rui)