The West Reveals America's Weakness in the Pacific
National Interest believes that Japan could become the weak link in the US defense system.
According to the National Interest, America's main ally in the Pacific - Japan, could also become the main gap in America's regional defense system.
"Japan has become America's leading ally in Asia, with a strong naval deterrent and a counterweight to China. Unfortunately, Japan has a reputation as a spy haven. The government is unable to protect military secrets and is therefore responsible for an environment where foreign spies operate relatively freely. This stems from Japan's lack of strong anti-espionage laws, while existing law enforcement agencies are reluctant to apply strict controls and surveillance measures," the Natinonal Interest article said.
The document also notes that in the event of a conflict between the US and China over Taiwan, Japan would become a weak point in the US defense capabilities. Moreover, it is believed that the intelligence gap in the “land of the rising sun” is not only a problem for Japan, but also a problem for the alliance that undermines the security of the US, as well as the entire Indo-Pacific region.
“The continued foreign intelligence activities in Japan and the lack of significant experience indicate a serious need for reform and the establishment of a comprehensive legal framework for protecting Japan’s state secrets. This is exacerbated by the fact that Japanese government agencies and private corporations that handle state secrets do not train counterintelligence and security experts,” National Interest stated.
At a meeting of defense ministers in late March, Japan and the United States affirmed their intention to actively cooperate to enhance defense and deterrence capabilities, as well as increase their presence in the southwestern part of the Japanese archipelago amid China's increased military activities in the East Sea.
