Japan Seeks Allies’ Help to Set Up First Postwar Central Intelligence Agency, NYT Reports

According to Lianhe Zaobao citing The New York Times, Japan has been seeking advice from partners including the U.S., Australia and Germany on creating its first centralized intelligence agency since World War II to coordinate currently fragmented intelligence work and better counter foreign interference and espionage. The report said Japan’s government plans to allocate about USD 40.7 million (about SGD 526 million) for the new body, which is expected to begin operations in December with an initial staff of several hundred, including software engineers, cybersecurity analysts and overseas liaison personnel; it would ultimately coordinate the work of more than 30,000 intelligence-related personnel across government departments. The report said U.S. intelligence officials have provided guidance on cyber defense, countering industrial espionage, tightening foreign investment screening and operational practices, while Germany’s foreign intelligence chief recently visited Tokyo to discuss the planned agency and intelligence sharing; Australia’s ambassador to Japan, Justin Hayhurst, told the NYT that Australian officials have also advised Japan on technology and interagency coordination and information-sharing strategies.