Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno [AFP Yonhap News]The Japanese government is expected to have the Prime Minister and up to nine ministers attend the newly established 'National Intelligence Council' to enhance its information gathering capabilities.

According to reports from Yomiuri Shimbun and Kyodo News on the 4th, the bill to establish the National Intelligence Council, which the Japanese government plans to submit during the current extraordinary Diet session extending until mid-July, includes these provisions.

In principle, the National Intelligence Council will include the Prime Minister as chairman, along with the Chief Cabinet Secretary, Minister of State for Financial Services, Chairman of the National Public Safety Commission, Minister of Justice, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Minister of Finance, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, and the Minister of Defense.

However, the Prime Minister can adjust the number of participants in the council depending on the situation.

This council will investigate and deliberate on important intelligence activities related to national security and terrorism, as well as counter foreign espionage activities aimed at acquiring classified information that could disrupt national administration if leaked.

Under the National Intelligence Council, a 'National Intelligence Agency' will be established to collect and evaluate intelligence.

The National Intelligence Agency, which will be created by elevating the status of the Cabinet Intelligence and Research Office, will also be responsible for consolidating information collected by ministries such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defense, and the National Police Agency, and coordinating intelligence activities. There are views that the National Intelligence Agency will become the 'Japanese version of the CIA'.

The National Intelligence Council and the National Intelligence Agency will operate at the same level as the National Security Council (NSC) and the National Security Secretariat under the NSC.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated the previous day, after receiving proposals on strengthening information gathering from Liberal Democratic Party General Council Chairman Takayuki Kobayashi, "Enhancing information capabilities leads to national strength" and "We intend to resolve each point of discussion one by one."

Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno, the Japanese government's spokesperson, said in the House of Representatives the previous day regarding the National Intelligence Council and other matters, "We will strive for organizational operations that contribute to strengthening our response to foreign information operations."

While the Japanese government plans to establish the National Intelligence Agency to centralize its information-gathering functions, Yomiuri pointed out that challenges such as a shortage of personnel and protection of human rights remain.

The newspaper noted, "Counterintelligence' to combat illegal intelligence activities by foreign forces and operations based on disinformation will also be a point of discussion."

The ruling party plans to take legislative measures to prevent espionage activities, but some opposition parties have raised concerns, mentioning the possibility of human rights violations.