EXCLUSIVE: Japan to Set Up 4-Div. Economic Security Think Tank

Tokyo, Nov. 21 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government plans to establish a think tank in spring 2027 featuring four divisions to strengthen its policymaking capabilities on economic security, it was learned Friday. According to multiple government sources, the divisions will respectively focus on information analysis, supply chains, technology management and risk assessment. With up to 50 staff members, including officials on loan from relevant government ministries and agencies for senior positions and those hired from the private sector, the think tank will conduct comprehensive research and provide timely policy recommendations in liaison with the National Security Secretariat, which will act as a control tower. More specifically, it will identify risks of supply disruptions for critical goods caused by emergencies or economic coercion by certain countries, such as one seen after Russia started invading Ukraine, as well as leakages of sensitive technologies. Through the organization, the government aims to overcome longstanding sectionalism and promote public-private cooperation in discussing diversifying supply sources, developing energy-saving technologies and other response measures based on vulnerability analyses and multiple scenarios including a Taiwan contingency. The think tank will also be tasked to monitor global trends in the management of technologies that may have military applications, such as artificial intelligence and robotics. Measures will be implemented to prevent technology leaks via imports, exports, and foreign companies. The plan to create the think tank will be included in a bill to revise the economic security law, sought by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. The bill is scheduled to be introduced to next year’s regular parliamentary session. The government sources also said the revised law will establish a public-private council to facilitate information sharing, consisting of a general committee to be attended by the prime minister and other relevant cabinet ministers and three subcommittees. The council will conduct tabletop exercises to assess risks such as large-scale power and communications outages and restrictions on maritime transportation. Private-sector personnel handling related information will be certified by the government under its security clearance system. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]