Five Eyes intelligence group ‘doesn’t need’ Japan to step up
JAPAN may not be needed to make up any gaps in the Five
Eyes intelligence group left by New Zealand, experts say.
New Zealand’s foreign minister Nanaia Mahuta – backed by PM Jacinda Arden – said that the country’s policies towards China should not be defined by the long-standing alliance.
The group of five countries – US, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand – are not bound by any official treaty but, since 1951, have evolved into an unparalleled intelligence-sharing club.
Though her comments were directed towards the publication of joint statements on China’s policies – such as the one issued last year to protest against the crackdown on democracy in
Hong Kong – it led critics last week to dub Auckland the weak link inside Five Eyes.
This was followed by news that Japan could be preparing to join the network, with its ambassador to Australia Shingo Yamagami
saying: “We would like to see this idea become reality in the near future.” But these calls were dubbed premature last night.
China expert John Hemmings, an associate fellow with the Council on Geostrategy think tank, said: “The prospect of Japan becoming a ‘sixth eye’ has long been on the cards though serious impediments remain.
“Japan must reform its intelligence services to reach the standards of intelligence-sharing which Five Eyes members have long taken for granted.
“It has begun to move in the right direction, but it remains a highly charged political issue domestically, stemming in part from the role of the military police in the Second World War.”
But intelligence expert
Dr Paul Maddrell, of Loughborough University, said formal membership by Japan would not be needed.
He said: “Five Eyes enables the US to cover the world.
“The UK takes care of Europe and the USSR or Russia, Canada does Northern Russia while Australia and New Zealand are vital for the Asia-pacific.
“But since the Security Treaty of 1951 with Japan, the US has been able to base armed forces there and conduct whatever operations it deems legitimate.
“If there is a shortfall from
New Zealand, the US can make up for it by increasing its efforts in Japan and even Taiwan.
“Japan may join in time, there’s no need for it to do so now.”