The Japanese government has officially stated the need to tighten the fight against foreign intelligence. The trigger for this sharp change in rhetoric was publications in Western media, specifically The New York Times, which described the situation in the country as turning it into a "den of spies".
According to journalistic investigation data, Russia is actively using Japanese territory to gather intelligence and purchase high-tech components necessary for waging war against Ukraine. Experts point out that weak legislation in the field of counter-espionage makes the country an attractive target for intelligence operations.
Official reaction from Tokyo
Minoru Kihara, the Chief Cabinet Secretary of Japan, confirmed that the country is aware of the growing threat. In his statement, he emphasized that in the context of the rapidly changing geopolitical situation, it is critically important to counter attempts by foreign intelligence services to gain access to strategically important information.
"We recognize that the need to counter the activities of foreign intelligence services is increasing, especially when it comes to their obtaining data that threatens Japan's national security," Kihara stated.
At the same time, the official refrained from directly commenting on specific details of the New York Times publication, noting only that Tokyo must approach solving this problem with even greater care.
Creation of a new security agency
In response to these challenges, the Japanese government has already begun acting at the legislative level. This year, the country's parliament approved a bill that paves the way for the creation of a new national agency. Its main task will be to coordinate fragmented intelligence activities, which will allow for more effective resistance to external threats.
Technology transit and supply schemes
The NYT investigation contains shocking data on the role of Japanese technology in Russian military production. According to estimates by the Ukrainian government, up to 90% of missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles used by Russian troops contain Japanese components.
The newspaper claims that operations in Japan were supervised by a Russian intelligence officer operating under cover at the Aeroflot office in Tokyo. Since the direct export of many technologies to Russia is restricted by international sanctions, intelligence services use complex schemes involving intermediaries.
Components are delivered through third countries — such as Vietnam, Uzbekistan, and Sri Lanka — bypassing direct restrictions. After the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Western countries expelled hundreds of Russian spies, many of whom moved specifically to Japan, taking advantage of its developed technological infrastructure and legal loopholes.
