Japan’s Lower House Committee Passes Bill to Establish National Intelligence Agency
On April 22, 2026, a bill to establish a "National Intelligence Agency" aimed at strengthening the government's intelligence capabilities was passed by a majority in the House of Representatives Cabinet Committee. This legislation seeks to create a central command center for integrated information gathering and analysis, and it is expected to be passed by the House of Representatives plenary session as early as the 23rd. During the committee vote, the Liberal Democratic Party and Nippon Ishin no Kai were joined by several opposition groups, including the Middle-road Reform Coalition, the Democratic Party for the People, Sanseito, and Team Mirai. In contrast, the Japanese Communist Party clarified its opposition, stating, "This bill creates a command center for government espionage. We cannot permit information sharing conducted under the name of 'comprehensive coordination.'" While the ruling coalition emphasizes that enhancing intelligence functions is ...