Japan Wants Its Own CIA-Like Spy Agency. China Is One Big Reason Why
Japan is undertaking a major intelligence overhaul to create a centralized spy agency, moving away from its post-WWII caution. This shift is driven by rising security threats from China, North Korea, and Russia, as well as pressure from the US to strengthen regional defense.
Why it matters
Japan's move signals a significant shift in the geopolitical balance of the Indo-Pacific, reflecting a more assertive stance on national security and intelligence gathering.
For decades, Japan has been seen as one of the weakest links among major powers when it came to intelligence gathering. While rivals allegedly stole trade secrets, launched cyberattacks and targeted Japanese institutions, Tokyo largely relied on allies like the United States for critical intelligence.Now, that is changing. In what is being described as Japan's biggest intelligence overhaul since World War II, the government is building a modern spy network of its own, according to a report by The Washington Post.
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