TOKYO - Japan held the first meeting of its new National Intelligence Council chaired by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, the government said Friday, in a step toward strengthening the country's intelligence capabilities and pursuing counterespionage legislation.
The first meeting of the council was held on the same day as the launch of its secretariat, the National Intelligence Bureau. A law enacted in May established both bodies as part of efforts by the Takaichi government to boost capabilities in response to increasingly complex overseas threats.
"The establishment of this council marks the first step in Japan's intelligence reforms," Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said at a regular press conference in Tokyo, adding the bodies will enable the government to make "sound decisions based on higher-quality, more timely intelligence."
The council, a central command body on intelligence chaired by Takaichi and comprising nine other Cabinet members, confirmed its future operational policy including measures to safeguard sensitive information at its first meeting, Kihara said.
The council is expected to discuss the creation of Japan's first national intelligence strategy and establish an expert panel to deliberate on new counterespionage legislation.
Meanwhile, the bureau will coordinate intelligence gathered by the National Police Agency, the Foreign Ministry, the Defense Ministry and other organizations, 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.
