FRIDAY, March 29, 2024
nationthailand

Japan likely to draw up economic security strategy in 2020

Japan likely to draw up economic security strategy in 2020

The government plans to draw up a national economic security strategy by the end of this year in a bid to protect and nurture domestic advanced technologies and secure maritime interests, among other goals.

With the United States and China fiercely competing for economic hegemony, the government has concluded it is necessary to draw up basic national principles, according to sources.

The National Security Council will start discussing a new strategy in April. The economic group - which will be newly established under the National Security Secretariat of the Cabinet Secretariat - will be in charge of compiling the strategy. 

The new strategy is expected to be discussed at four-minister meetings at the NSC at first, and will be decided at nine-minister meetings, the sources said.

The five main pillars of the government's envisaged strategy are:

- Development of science technology and protection of sensitive information

- Protection of maritime rights and interests in territorial waters and exclusive economic zones

- Removal of potential threats from 5G next-generation telecommunications standards, and measures to combat cyber-attacks

- Strict management of the export control system and measures for foreign investment in Japan

- Cooperation with foreign countries on infrastructure.

Based on the new strategy, the government plans to focus on efforts to protect national interests in these fields. If necessary, the government will establish a new legal system and take measures in cooperation with the private sector.

The National Security Strategy, which serves as a basic principle of security policy, makes little reference as to how the government should handle 5G and other security-related crucial technologies. The strategy, which was decided by the Cabinet in 2013, replaced the Basic Policy for National Defense adopted in 1957.

It also does not refer to how Japan should handle products that raise concerns over security such as the ones from Huawei Technologies Co., a major Chinese telecommunications equipment maker. The United States, meanwhile, has heightened security concerns over Huawei products.

While Japan possesses internationally superior technologies in such fields as artificial intelligence, brain science and quantum cryptography, it is said that universities, research institutes and private companies in the nation have failed to take sufficient measures to prevent technology outflows.

Under the new strategy, the government and the private sector plan to work together to prevent the outflows of advanced technologies by thoroughly managing the information. 

In addition to defense technologies, the government will include in the strategy the development of Japan's own advanced technologies that can be used for military purposes in the future.

It also will include the protection of maritime information in territorial waters and other areas. Data on the topography, geology and water quality of the seabed are essential for military activities, including submarines. 

However, domestic laws don't restrict foreign research vessels or companies from conducting ocean surveys for constructing offshore wind power generation or laying undersea cables.

Thus, relevant ministries and agencies plan to work closely on preventing foreign elements from conducting such surveys in ways that could lead to the transfer of strategic information out of the country.

In mobile phones and other businesses, the government is expected to call for stricter screening of foreign investment in Japan. The move is designed to prevent leaks of confidential information, and includes measures against Huawei and China's DJI, the world's leading drone maker. The government will also consider strengthening the protection of key infrastructure operated mainly by the private sector in the event of an emergency.

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