Japan has passed a law to centralize its intelligence apparatus under a new National Intelligence Council and bureau, a move driven by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s push to strengthen national security and counter foreign espionage, and it has drawn sharp criticism from Beijing.
Tokyo’s overhaul creates a council chaired by the prime minister and a secretariat called the National Intelligence Bureau to coordinate data from the police, foreign ministry, defense ministry and other agencies. The goal is to pull together a fragmented system so Japan can better spot cyberattacks, election interference and foreign spying. The package is pitched as building foundational intelligence capabilities while protecting public safety and national interests.
The law hands the bureau authority to request information from existing agencies and aims to centralize analysis that was previously scattered across ministries. Takaichi has framed this as necessary for modern threats that cross agency lines, from disinformation campaigns to sophisticated cyber operations. That centralization is meant to speed decision-making and give Tokyo clearer insight into who is watching Japan and why.
Takaichi has said a system for registering agents of foreign governments engaged in lobbying activities should be considered, and that Japan needs to establish its own foreign intelligence agency.
The new law lacks provisions for parliament to monitor intelligence activities, leaving questions regarding democratic oversight unresolved.
Speaking to reporters at her office, Takaichi maintained the new law will not raise risks to privacy, saying it will “establish the foundations of Japan’s intelligence capabilities” and strengthen the country’s ability to “protect public safety and the national interest.”
Regarding further intelligence measures, she said the government will “proceed with our deliberations carefully and steadily while listening to a wide range of views.”
Devised in response to national security concerns, including cyberattacks and election interference via social media disinformation, the council will be chaired by the prime minister and composed of nine other Cabinet members, including the chief Cabinet secretary and foreign minister.
It will centralize a fragmented intelligence apparatus, with the law stating the council’s secretariat, the National Intelligence Bureau, will comprehensively coordinate intelligence gathered by the National Police Agency, the Foreign Ministry, the Defense Ministry and other organizations, with the authority to ask them to share information.
The government could establish the council and bureau as early as July and set up an expert panel to discuss counterespionage legislation. It is expected to formulate policy with an eye to submitting a bill during the regular parliamentary session in 2027.
Not everyone is pleased. Beijing responded predictably, warning Tokyo to be cautious and suggesting the move has broader regional implications. Chinese officials invoked history and constitutional concerns while casting suspicion on Japan’s motives.
Japan’s lawmakers need to learn the lessons of history and act prudently, a spokeswoman for China’s Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.
Commenting on the passing of a bill by Japan’s Upper House to establish a National Intelligence Council, Mao Ning said: “We’re concerned about the move and note that it has already been both domestically and internationally questioned.”
Addressing a regular news conference, Mao quoted people with insights in the country who have pointed out that the move is not simply Japan’s internal affair, but also a major issue concerning the country’s constitutional system as well as its domestic and foreign security policies.
Mao added that Japan’s intelligence community has, in the past, paved the way for militarism and wars of aggression which resulted in innumerable crimes against its Asian neighbors as well as the people of Japan themselves.
That line about history is standard CCP rhetoric and should be treated as such. Claiming the overhaul is a step toward militarism ignores the clear, present dangers of state-backed hacking and foreign influence operations. Japan is dealing with modern threats, not reviving past ambitions.
There’s another practical reason Beijing is upset: technology and partnerships. U.S. AI firms and defense-related tech companies have been deepening ties in the region, and Japanese officials have met with private AI executives to explore how advanced analytics and machine learning can strengthen national security. Those relationships make Beijing nervous because they tighten the security cooperation between Japan and technology firms from democracies that compete with China in AI.
From a Republican perspective, strengthening intelligence institutions is a sensible response to a rising peer competitor that blends military power with economic coercion and cyber tools. Building capacity, ensuring secure information sharing and investing in modern analytic tools are defensive moves that protect citizens and allies. The conversation about parliamentary oversight is real and should not be dismissed, but it shouldn’t be used as cover to block capability where the threat environment is clear.
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Tokyo’s timeline suggests the council and bureau could be set up quickly, with counterespionage discussions already on the table and potential legislation aimed for 2027. That timetable reflects urgency, not alarmism, and it signals Japan’s intent to act decisively on national security. Expect debates inside Japan to focus on balancing effective intelligence with civil liberties, while debates outside will test regional trust and suspicions.
China’s protests will continue, and the diplomatic fallout is only beginning, but the practical effect is straightforward: Japan has moved to centralize intelligence, and Washington and other partners will watch how Tokyo implements safeguards and operational structures. This shift is a reminder that democratic nations are recalibrating to the geopolitical realities of great power competition, where intelligence and technology matter as much as military hardware.
