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[Anchor] A bill to create a national intelligence agency—often described as “Japan’s CIA”—has cleared the National Diet. Analysts say the move is linked to a broader push to rearm under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, and it has sparked opposition both inside and outside Japan’s political establishment. Reporter Eun‑nae Kang has the details. [Reporter] The upper house approved the “Law to Establish a National Intelligence Agency,” which will centralize security and intelligence information that had been scattered across the Foreign Ministry, the Defense Ministry and other agencies. The bill passed after the Liberal Democratic Party and the Japan Innovation Party voted in favor. The government plans to launch a centralized intelligence command in July to consolidate and analyze information from across ministries. The new National Intelligence Agency will upgrade the existing Cabinet Intelligence and Research Office into an organization of roughly 700 personnel, with the prime minister chairing and exercising direct oversight. Analysts say the bill is the first concrete outcome of Prime Minister Takaichi’s “Information Japan” agenda, which she promoted during February’s lower-house election. They also view it as part of a broader trend toward Japanese rearmament. Sanae Takaichi / Prime Minister of Japan (on the 26th): “As a nation with strong intelligence capabilities, we will build a robust intelligence cooperation network among allies and partners to protect the safety, security and national interests of our citizens.” The Takaichi administration plans further legislation, including an anti‑espionage law and the establishment of an external intelligence agency. The opposition Constitutional Democratic Party proposed an amendment to create an independent oversight body amid concerns about human rights abuses, but the amendment was rejected. Civil society has also voiced serious concerns. Protester opposing the national intelligence agency: “Some people say this law closely resembles the prewar Peace Preservation Law. I’m afraid it could push Japan toward another war.” The government intends to draw up a mid‑ to long‑term national intelligence strategy by year‑end, but critics at home and abroad say democratic oversight mechanisms remain insufficient, and that criticism is likely to persist. This is Eun‑nae Kang reporting for Yonhap News TV. Video editing: Sim Ji‑mi. #Japan #ForeignMinistry #Takaichi #CIA #DefenseMinistry #NationalIntelligenceAgency #SecurityStrengthening #WarCrimesNation Yonhap News TV — tips and inquiries: KakaoTalk/LINE jebo23 Eun‑nae Kang (rae@yna.co.kr)
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