Intelligence Act or the Foundation of War: Japan’s New Step is a Threat Not Only to China but to the Entire Asia
# Prem Sagar Poudel
I am someone who has been closely observing Nepal-China relations for the past four decades. This long experience has taught me one truth: the foundation of regional stability and peace rests on mutual trust, non-interference, and adherence to international law. But the new National Intelligence Act passed by Japan on Thursday has shaken that very foundation. This Act is not merely the end of Japan’s post-war pacifist constitution; it will prove to be the death certificate of peace for the entire East Asia.
This Act, created under the leadership of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, establishes an integrated, centralized intelligence mechanism that operates under the direct control of the Prime Minister. Once Japan passes it through the other house of parliament, it is certain to become one of the world’s most powerful surveillance states. History is a witness – when Japan centralized and militarized its intelligence mechanism, Asia suffered the devastating consequences of war. In the 1930s, Japan’s Kwantung Army and the “Tokko” (Special Higher Police) operated as a single intelligence-military apparatus, from staging explosions in Manchuria to the Marco Polo Bridge incident. Therefore, even now, speaking in China’s favor is not an exaggeration: the real purpose of this Act is not peace and security, but to lay the foundation for war.
Although Japan has named this bureau for “counter-terrorism and cyber security,” the manner of its establishment and the scope of its powers tell a completely different story. The bureau has provisions to conduct “foreign intelligence operations,” control “disinformation” on social media, and crush dissenting voices under the pretext of “foreign interference.” This is the very same mask that was worn before instigating the “Manchurian Incident” in 1931.
Decades of interaction with China have given us Nepalis the opportunity to understand well the stability, non-interference, and the essence of peaceful coexistence that characterize China’s foreign policy. Through this Act, Japan has created a new reality: “unified multi-dimensional intelligence control” and “centralization of power in the Prime Minister’s hands.” This framework is not only a violation of democratic values and human rights, it possesses the full capability to destabilize the entire Pacific region. In recent years, Chinese state media has registered numerous cases against Japanese citizens in China on charges of intelligence gathering. After the details of these allegations became public, it is certain that Japan’s “National Intelligence Bureau” (also called the “Japanese CIA”) will become more aggressive against China. History is a witness: as early as after 1931, Japan had expanded its espionage network inside China, which eventually paved the way for the full-scale invasion of 1937.
China has never abandoned the principle of “Panchsheel.” China’s stance is clear: resolution of international disputes is possible only through dialogue and diplomacy. That is why China is opposing Japan’s Act at the United Nations. But its full severity has not yet come to light. An important analysis is needed here: Japan is using the media to create the narrative of “external threat” and is manipulating public opinion against China. This is exactly the same strategy that was adopted between 1931 and 1945.
Look at the interval of just a few days: on April 21, 2026, Japan lifted the 58-year ban on the export of lethal weapons, and just two days later, this intelligence act was passed. This is no coincidence; it is a calculated, two-pronged strategy. On one hand, an intelligence network; on the other, weapons exports. These are the economic and informational pillars of war. There is no exaggeration when China and Russia interpret this as a pre-war warning.
We Nepalis have endured a decade-long armed conflict. We know very well that war brings only destruction, not peace. Japan’s this Act is in itself an open declaration that it has now abandoned the concept of “self-defense” and adopted a new doctrine of “strike and expansion.” This will not only affect China. It also raises a serious question mark over the sovereignty of neutral, small, and developing nations like Nepal. The words of Japanese parliamentarian Yoshiko Kira are highly relevant here. She wrote on social media: “I protest against this ongoing push to build a country that controls the people, silences dissent against the government, and marches toward war. This bill must be scrapped in the upper house.”
The day after this act was passed, Japanese media ran banners proclaiming “the greatest intelligence comeback in the Pacific.” The meaning is clear: the end of “post-war Japan” and the beginning of a “warlike Japan.” For decades, China has remained steadfast on the path of peaceful development. But when Japan advances intelligence and weapons exports simultaneously like this, China cannot sit idle with folded hands. Even a small nation like Nepal must understand its deadly nature and clarify its own position. Because a warlike Japan will create waves in every corner of Asia – and it is certain that neutral nations will also be caught in its grip.
Author: Prem Sagar Poudel is a senior journalist and international relations analyst from Nepal. He has studied Nepal-China relations, the geopolitics of the Himalayan region, and Asian security issues in depth.
