Japanese PM Takaichi Will Form CIA-like Intelligence Agency

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. (X @takaichi_sanae)

JAKARTA - Japanese Prime Minister (PM) who has been inaugurated, Sanae Takaichi has instructed the Secretary-General of the Japanese Cabinet, Minuru Kihara, to study the strengthening of his country's intelligence capabilities.

This is based on Takaichi, supported by the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and his coalition of the Japan Update Community Party previously agreed to cooperate in the formation of a national intelligence agency.

"The latest coalition agreement with the Japan Renewable Community Party stipulates the inclusion of the formation of a national intelligence agency at the next parliamentary session in 2026," Kihara said reporting Yomiuri newspaper citing a source, Friday, October 24, quoted from Tass.

According to the newspaper, intelligence functions are now run by a number of structures under the cabinet of ministers, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defense, the police, and the Ministry of Justice. If needed, they provide information to the National Security Secretariat, which ensures the smooth running of the duties of the National Security Council.

However, this structure is deemed inadequate, so it is planned to establish an intelligence directorate, which will assist current intelligence structure employees from various institutions. The head of this new unit will be promoted to the secretaryial level of the Security Council and will be directly under the Prime Minister and secretary general of the cabinet. The agency will also be authorized to give instructions to various ministries and institutions," Yomiuri noted.

During the election campaign, Takaichi is known to call for Japan to form intelligence agencies such as the CIA.