Considering Spy Prevention Act

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi showed her willingness to legislate a new law to regulate spies in her Diet discussion. Takaichi argued that she had been upholding new legislation of Spy Prevention Act in her campaign of presidential election of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in October. The legislation was included in the agreement for building new coalition with Japan Innovation Party (JIP). Takaichi insisted that she would take measures to protect Japanese citizens from foreign powers.

Raising “Making Japan Strong and Prosperous” as her campaign slogan, Takaichi promised the LDP voters to legislate Spy Prevention Act, as well as installing National Intelligence Bureau which would lead ministries related to intelligence. She appealed xenophobic sentiment of Japanese people, arguing that deer in Nara Park was kicked by foreigners.

 

JIP supports Takaichi’s policy. In the agreement for forming a coalition, the LDP and JIP shared a notion that they would start their discussion for a bill for preventing spies within 2025 and pass it as soon as possible. They also agreed on establishing National Intelligence Bureau, which would have power equivalent to National Security Secretariat, in the ordinary session of the Diet in 2026.

 

Asked about her motivation for Spy Prevention Act by a conservative populist leader of Sanseito, Sohei Kamiya, Takaichi insisted that she was willing to pass a bill for that. “We will deal with various risks that undermine social stability and democracy, including maneuvers by foreign powers or theft of information,” said Takaichi. She also referred to registration of foreign agents for economic activities.

 

The LDP once tried to legislate Spy Prevention Act in 1980s. Although Yasuhiro Nakasone Cabinet submitted a bill named National Secrecy Act to the Diet in 1985, it was rejected by majority of the Diet. It was concerned that the law would infringe freedom of thought and conscience. Radical conservatives have been frustrated with lack of law to prevent clandestine activities in Japan ever since.

 

Encouraged by Takaichi’s action for legislating a spy law, the LDP started discussion for establishment of National Intelligence Bureau. In the first meeting of LDP Council on Intelligence Strategy, former Secretary General of National Security Secretariat, Shigeru Kitamura, advised that collection of information from every ministry would be the key to success. There are various organizations within some ministries, including Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Defense or Ministry for Internal Affairs and Communications.

 

Cabinet Secretariat currently has Cabinet Intelligence and Research Office. Although Takaichi is considering to reform the office to a new organization for intelligence, it is still not foreseeable how new organization can make a difference from the existing system.

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