System could silence anti-war voices under banner of security, critics warn

Concerns are growing in Japan over what critics describe as a dangerous drift toward suppressing anti-war voices in the name of national security, as the government pushes ahead with constitutional revisions and the creation of a new national intelligence structure.

Japan's House of Councillors on Wednesday passed legislation establishing a national intelligence council, as Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi moves to centralize and strengthen the country's intel capabilities. The bill had cleared the House of Representatives last month.

Under the legislation, Japan will build an intelligence system centered on the national intelligence council, with a national intelligence bureau serving as its operational arm.

READ MORE: Japanese parliament enacts law to establish national intelligence council

Chaired by the prime minister, the council will comprise relevant Cabinet members, including the chief Cabinet secretary and foreign minister, while the bureau will coordinate intelligence work across government ministries and agencies.

Critics warn the move could pave the way for a broader expansion of executive power.

Japanese lawyer Shunkichi Takayama said the Takaichi administration is attempting to open the door to constitutional revision through the introduction of an "emergency clause", which would allow the Cabinet to temporarily assume parliamentary functions during major crises.

The deeper intention behind the move is to seriously consider how Japan could seize opportunities for military action under critical circumstances, Takayama said.

The establishment of a national intelligence council should be understood within this broader context, he said, adding that its purpose would be to identify, monitor and suppress anti-war activists to advance pro-war policies.

Both the proposed intelligence agency and potential anti-espionage legislation are being viewed as tools serving that wider agenda — developments that are increasingly raising concern within Japanese society, he said.

Protests against the bill were held in Tokyo on Tuesday and Wednesday, with demonstrators carrying signs reading "No laws for war preparations" and "No public surveillance! Intelligence agency bill monitors citizens".

Makoto Konishi, a former member of Japan's Air Self-Defense Force, said one objective behind the government's push to establish a new intelligence framework is to suppress anti-war and pro-peace voices.

Nikkei Asia reported that opposition lawmakers warned that the new institution could expand government surveillance powers, characterizing the move as a return to a dangerous path Japan once followed.

Before and during World War II, Japan's Special Higher Police, known as Tokko, and military police organizations actively suppressed anti-government movements and civil society groups.

In an earlier editorial, the Ryukyu Shimpo warned that Japan should learn from the prewar misuse of public security legislation and remain cautious about expanding state intelligence systems.

Since taking office, Takaichi has repeatedly argued that Japan faces "the most severe and complex security environment of the postwar era".

Justification questioned

Hiroshi Shiratori, a professor of political science at Hosei University in Tokyo, told China Daily, "The Japanese government has consistently used claims of an increasingly severe security environment to justify expanding defense spending."

However, he questioned what concrete evidence or standards the government relies on to conclude that Japan is facing a "security crisis" and to continuously heighten public anxiety.

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Shiratori warned that repeatedly emphasizing crises, intensifying perceptions of threats from neighboring countries and further expanding military capabilities could unnecessarily heighten regional tensions and increase the risk of accidental conflict.

The Mainichi Shimbun reported that the Japanese government could establish the national intelligence council and the national intelligence bureau as early as July, while also setting up an expert panel to discuss counterespionage legislation.

The government is expected to formulate its policy and submit related legislation during the regular parliamentary session in 2027.

Contact the writers at houjunjie@chinadaily.com.cn