July 14, 2026
Viridianaor / pexels
Japan has said that it recognizes the need to counter foreign intelligence better after the New York Times reported that Russia had turned the country into a "den of spies" and a key source of weapons components.
The newspaper, in an investigation published Sunday, reported that thanks to "weak espionage laws," Moscow was using Japan as a hub for intelligence gathering and procurement of dual-use technology needed for its war in Ukraine.
"We recognise that in a rapidly changing security environment there is a growing need to counter foreign intelligence activities — such as the acquisition of critical information — that threaten Japan's national security," chief government spokesman Minoru Kihara said on Monday.
