Strengthening Intel Gathering: Japan's Lower House Passes Bill to Establish 'National Intelligence Agency'
To enhance intelligence gathering and analysis, Japan's House of Representatives passed a bill to establish a 'National Intelligence Agency'. With some opposition support, it is expected to be enacted this Diet session.
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- 📰 Published: April 23, 2026 at 20:11
- 🔍 Collected: April 23, 2026 at 20:32 (20 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 23, 2026 at 20:41 (9 min after Collected)
(Central News Agency, Reporter Tai Ya-chen, Tokyo, 23rd) To strengthen intelligence gathering and analytical capabilities, the Japanese government proposed a bill to establish a "National Intelligence Agency." Today, it passed the House of Representatives plenary session with a majority approval from both ruling and opposition parties and was sent to the House of Councillors for deliberation. Because some opposition parties have also expressed support, the bill is expected to pass even in the Upper House, where the ruling party is a minority, and the agency is slated to be established within the current Diet session.
According to an NHK report, the contents of the bill state that a new "National Intelligence Agency" will be created, endowed with comprehensive coordination authority to integrate and analyze intelligence from various ministries and agencies.
During the discussion in the House of Representatives plenary session, Atsushi Oshima, a member of the centrist-reform alliance (Chudo Kaikaku Rengo), stated: "This bill builds a foundation to support the government in making correct decisions. We understand its necessity and vote in favor. However, regarding concerns that it might lead to the surveillance of citizens' lives, the government must respond squarely."
Miho Nomura, a member of the Democratic Party for the People (DPP), pointed out that it should not stop merely at establishing an organization; deeper discussions must continue to drive genuine reform of the intelligence system.
Yuichiro Kawa of the Sanseito party stated that the bill is a necessary step, but the response to realistic threats is still insufficient. The anti-espionage legal system has not yet been comprehensively constructed and must be continuously strengthened.
During the subsequent vote, the bill passed with majority support from the ruling coalition, including the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Nippon Ishin no Kai, as well as opposition parties such as the centrist-reform alliance, DPP, Sanseito, and the Team Future, and was sent to the House of Councillors. The Japanese Communist Party and Reiwa Shinsengumi cast opposing votes.
Since the DPP and Sanseito, which support the bill, hold a certain number of seats in the House of Councillors, it is anticipated that the bill will pass smoothly and be established in the current Diet session.
The bill also passed with supplementary resolutions, demanding that the Japanese government must adequately avoid unnecessary infringements on personal information and privacy during the intelligence-gathering process, and ensure that no intelligence activities detrimental to political neutrality are conducted. (Editor: Chen Yen-chun) 1150423
According to an NHK report, the contents of the bill state that a new "National Intelligence Agency" will be created, endowed with comprehensive coordination authority to integrate and analyze intelligence from various ministries and agencies.
During the discussion in the House of Representatives plenary session, Atsushi Oshima, a member of the centrist-reform alliance (Chudo Kaikaku Rengo), stated: "This bill builds a foundation to support the government in making correct decisions. We understand its necessity and vote in favor. However, regarding concerns that it might lead to the surveillance of citizens' lives, the government must respond squarely."
Miho Nomura, a member of the Democratic Party for the People (DPP), pointed out that it should not stop merely at establishing an organization; deeper discussions must continue to drive genuine reform of the intelligence system.
Yuichiro Kawa of the Sanseito party stated that the bill is a necessary step, but the response to realistic threats is still insufficient. The anti-espionage legal system has not yet been comprehensively constructed and must be continuously strengthened.
During the subsequent vote, the bill passed with majority support from the ruling coalition, including the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Nippon Ishin no Kai, as well as opposition parties such as the centrist-reform alliance, DPP, Sanseito, and the Team Future, and was sent to the House of Councillors. The Japanese Communist Party and Reiwa Shinsengumi cast opposing votes.
Since the DPP and Sanseito, which support the bill, hold a certain number of seats in the House of Councillors, it is anticipated that the bill will pass smoothly and be established in the current Diet session.
The bill also passed with supplementary resolutions, demanding that the Japanese government must adequately avoid unnecessary infringements on personal information and privacy during the intelligence-gathering process, and ensure that no intelligence activities detrimental to political neutrality are conducted. (Editor: Chen Yen-chun) 1150423