Japan says it must counter foreign espionage more rigorously after Russia report
Japan has said it recognises a growing need to counter foreign intelligence activity after a report alleged that Russia had used the country as a hub for espionage and procurement of dual-use technology. Chief government spokesperson Minoru Kihara said Tokyo must address the issue with "even greater rigour" as concerns grow over threats to national security. The comments came after an investigation said Russia had taken advantage of Japan's technology sector and what it described as weak espionage laws.
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Kihara said the government sees a rising need to respond to foreign intelligence activity, including the acquisition of critical information. He declined to comment directly on the report, but said the issue should be handled with greater seriousness. The report said Moscow had used Japan as a key base for intelligence gathering and for obtaining components that can be used in weapons systems.
The report cited Ukrainian government estimates that 90% of Russian missiles and drones contain Japanese components. It also alleged that Russian operations in Japan were being run by an intelligence operative working under cover at the Tokyo office of Aeroflot, the majority state-owned Russian airline. Because direct exports to Russia are restricted, the report said procurement networks have relied on intermediary companies and third countries including Vietnam, Uzbekistan and Sri Lanka to move components onward.
The issue has wider significance because it sits at the intersection of national security, export controls and Japan's role in advanced manufacturing. Japan is a major technology producer, and the report argued that this makes it attractive for intelligence collection and procurement networks. The allegations also come against the backdrop of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which has prompted Western countries to expel hundreds of Russian spies and tighten scrutiny of covert activity.
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Kihara said Japan's parliament approved legislation this year that paves the way for a new national body to coordinate the country's fragmented intelligence activities. That move suggests Tokyo is already trying to strengthen its security architecture, even as officials acknowledge the system remains dispersed. A lawmaker from the governing Liberal Democratic Party, Akihisa Shiozaki, said he had a "sense of crisis" about the situation and noted his experience prosecuting industrial espionage cases.
What remains unclear is how far the alleged Russian network extends inside Japan and whether the government will respond with new legal or operational measures. The report did not say whether any arrests or formal investigations have been announced in Japan. The next developments to watch are whether Tokyo expands intelligence coordination, tightens export enforcement, or issues a more direct public response to the allegations.
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