Japan's intelligence overhaul: What does it mean?

Editor's Note: Japan is launching its biggest intelligence reform since World War II, marking a major shift in how the country coordinates national security. What is driving this overhaul? Could it reshape Japan's security policy and influence the strategic balance in East Asia? In this episode of The Hub, Wang Guan is joined by Alexis Dudden, professor of history at the University of Connecticut; Lim Taiwei, professor of business at Soka University; Josef Mahoney, professor of politics and international relations at East China Normal University; and Rong Ying, chair professor at Sichuan University, to discuss the creation of Japan's new National Intelligence Bureau and National Intelligence Council. Together, they explore the motivations behind the reform, examine how it fits into Japan's broader national security strategy, and look at the historical lessons that continue to shape public debate. They also examine concerns over oversight, privacy and accountability, as well as the implications for regional security, intelligence cooperation, cyber competition and the future of the post-war order in East Asia.