Japan’s LDP approves plan to bolster intelligenceAFP, TOKYOJapanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s ruling party approved plans to beef up the country’s intelligence capability, a party official said yesterday, as Takaichi pushes ahead with a defense overhaul. The proposal, agreed by the intelligence strategy headquarters of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), includes establishing an upgraded intelligence bureau and bolstering “foreign intelligence collection capabilities,” an LDP official said. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks during a news conference at her office in Tokyo on Wednesday last week. “One of the central pillars of the major policy shift [under Takaichi] is a fundamental strengthening of intelligence,” LDP policy chief Takayuki Kobayashi said. The prime minister has vowed that Japan would steadfastly protect its territory, waters and airspace.

Source: Taipei Times February 27, 2026 17:17 UTC