Japan’s lower house approved a bill on Thursday to upgrade Tokyo’s intelligence capacity, the latest step in Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s campaign to boost the nation’s defense and security apparatus. It cleared the lower house by a majority vote, with support also coming from key opposition parties.
Japanese officials have long argued that the nation needs to improve its intelligence capacity to deter foreign spies, prevent terrorism, safeguard sensitive technologies and improve national security.
The issue has gained a renewed sense of urgency since a diplomatic row erupted with Beijing, after Takaichi suggested in November that Tokyo might intervene militarily in any Chinese attempt to take Taiwan.
Takaichi’s critics have voiced concerns that the upgraded intelligence capacity might lead to the government’s overreach and infringe upon individual freedom and privacy. (AFP)
