Japanese lower house approves bill to set up national intelligence committee

Japan's lower house on Thursday passed a bill to establish a national intelligence bureau, part of broader efforts to strengthen the government's intelligence capabilities. The legislation is expected to be enacted after passing the House of Councillors, where approval is highly likely. 

The development comes just two days after the Japanese government revised its long-standing arms export principles to allow shipments of lethal weapons, marking a notable shift from its postwar restrictions.

The new intelligence body has sparked debate among opposition parties, analysts and the public. While supporters argue that stronger intelligence coordination is necessary to respond to an increasingly complex global security environment, critics warn that an expanded intelligence apparatus could infringe on privacy and undermine freedom of expression. Some analysts also view the move as a departure from Japan's pacifist constitution.

The initiative, promoted by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's administration, aims to centralize Japan's intelligence system under a unified structure. Under the bill, a National Intelligence Council – chaired by the prime minister and comprising 11 senior cabinet members – will oversee key intelligence activities related to national security, counterterrorism and overseas operations.

The proposed National Intelligence Bureau will serve as the council's executive arm, coordinating intelligence work across government agencies.

Xiang Haoyu, a research fellow at the China Institute of International Studies, said the proposed bureau would further concentrate intelligence authority in the hands of the prime minister and senior cabinet officials, strengthening centralized control over national intelligence resources.

Japanese critics say the government must address public concerns that expanded intelligence activities could lead to increased surveillance of citizens. Opposition lawmakers have also warned that intelligence gathering should not undermine political neutrality.

Junya Ogawa of the Constitutional Democratic Party said during parliamentary deliberations that the concentration of intelligence powers increases the risk of abuse. Meanwhile, upper house lawmaker Yoshiko Kira criticized the move on social media, arguing that the combination of expanded arms exports and the new intelligence structure could tighten state control and push Japan toward a more security-driven path.

At present, Japan's intelligence functions are spread across multiple bodies, including the Cabinet Intelligence and Research Office, the Defense Intelligence Headquarters, and units within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Police Agency and Public Security Intelligence Agency.

Lv Yaodong, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said the framework could weaken postwar constraints and provide institutional support for constitutional revision and expanded defense capabilities. He warned that the bureau could support future military operations by focusing on both domestic monitoring and overseas intelligence gathering.

"Its offensive and confrontational nature is becoming more pronounced, and it closely mirrors the intelligence model of pre-war Japanese militarism," Lv said, cautioning the international community to take note of its potential implications for civil liberties and regional stability.