Japan Press Weekly

Tweet

2014 January 8 - 14 [POLITICS]

Concern voiced over ‘security’ of new NSA

There is growing concern about the “security” of the newly-established National Security Agency.

The ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic and Komei parties and other conservative opposition parties in November 2013 rammed through a bill to set up a Japanese version of the U.S. National Security Council despite strong objections from other opposition parties, including the Japanese Communist Party. Based on the law, the government launched the agency on January 7 as an office of the NSC.

The NSA is headquartered in a private building located behind the prime minister’s office in Tokyo.

The agency is composed of 67 people from the Foreign and Defense ministries, the National Police and Public Security Investigation agencies, and the Self-Defense Forces. Which floor the office is on is kept undisclosed.

Prime Minister Abe Shinzo said at the opening of the office, “We will work to protect our territory and territorial waters as well as national interests more strategically than ever.”

At a news conference on the same day, Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga Yoshihide said, “We need to give due consideration to the security of that building.”


Past related article:
> Block Abe’s attempt to turn Japan into war-fighting nation [December 8, 2013]