Takaichi Convenes First Panel on Strengthening Intelligence
Overview
On September 28, 2026, Prime Minister Takaichi convened the first expert panel on strengthening intelligence functions at the Prime Minister’s Office. Citing the military buildup and stronger cooperation among neighboring countries, prolonged conflicts, and rising information-related threats in Japan, she described strengthening intelligence capabilities as an urgent task. She called the establishment of the National Intelligence Council and National Intelligence Bureau the first step in reform, and said the government should advance measures to prevent undue foreign interference and strengthen external intelligence functions. She also stressed the need to compile and publish a National Intelligence Strategy setting out medium- and long-term measures to advance government intelligence activities.
Key points
- The Prime Minister positioned strengthening intelligence capabilities as an urgent task.
- The establishment of the National Intelligence Council and National Intelligence Bureau was described as the first step in intelligence reform.
- The government’s medium- and long-term measures to advance intelligence activities were to be compiled and published as a National Intelligence Strategy.
Overview
On September 28, 2026, Prime Minister Takaichi held a meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office. Against a backdrop of intensifying geopolitical competition among states, she cited the military buildup by China and North Korea around Japan and stronger cooperation between China and Russia and between Russia and North Korea. She said conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East were becoming protracted and affecting the world.
She explained that threats were also rising domestically, including the illicit outflow of advanced technology involving foreign intelligence officers, cyberattacks targeting important public- and private-sector information, and the spread of disinformation intended to steer public opinion in favor of foreign interests.
Impact
The Prime Minister said stronger intelligence capabilities are essential to protecting the safety of the public and Japan’s national interests. She said intelligence departments must take policy departments’ needs into account, obtain high-quality, timely intelligence, and robustly support government decision-making.
Details
She explained that the National Intelligence Council and National Intelligence Bureau were established at the end of July this year to strengthen the command function for intelligence activities across the government. As the first step in reform, she said the government would further strengthen measures to prevent undue foreign interference and enhance external intelligence functions.
She stressed the need to compile and publish a National Intelligence Strategy setting out medium- and long-term measures to advance government intelligence activities. Experts with deep knowledge of international affairs, economic security, advanced science and technology, cybersecurity, information dissemination, influence operations, and law attended the meeting, which was established to discuss this policy. The Prime Minister asked the members, including Chair Watanabe, to continue offering candid opinions.