Spies like us: ASIS training Japanese (Australia training Japanese spies)

The Australian ^ | MARCH 21, 2015 | Paul Maley

[Dundee]

AUSTRALIA’S overseas intelligence agency, ASIS, has been training Japanese spies in the tradecraft of espionage as Tokyo seeks to establish its first foreign spy service since World War II.

...ASIS has taken a key role in training Japan’s fledgling spies since Tokyo decided to ­establish a foreign intelligence service to gather information on looming regional security challenges, such as those posed by North Korea, the rise of China and the threat of Islamist terror.

Japan’s intention to establish a spy service was flagged in a cable published by WikiLeaks...

...Japanese intelligence officers have been posted to Australia as part of a formal training program...

Since 2008 members of Japan’s national security community have been travelling to Australia to be trained by ASIS so that Japan can slowly build its espionage capability...

The program is part of a deepening security and trade relationship between Australia and Japan, built in part on a shared ­desire to balance against the growing power of China.

...more than 20 ­officers have been trained under the program.

...WikiLeaks detailed Japan’s intention to set up a foreign spy service to improve Tokyo’s intelligence on North Korea and China, whose rapid rise represents a direct challenge to Japan’s position in the region.

Japan was also eager to collect intelligence on potential terrorism threats...

...US embassy advised Washington of a 2008 conversation between ...head of the US State Department’s bureau of intelligence, and Hideshi Mitani, director of Japan’s Cabinet Intelligence and Research Office, in which Mr Mitani stated that a "human intelligence collection capability" had become a priority for Tokyo.

"...the Japanese realise that they lack knowledge, experience, and assets/officers. A training process for new personnel will be started very soon"...

Japan has not had an external spy agency since World War II...

[Dundee]

It would seem to be logical that Australia would not be the only 5 eyes member to be training the Japanese. I'd also think that if the Japanese are after world class training for their spies then they would be training with Mossad as well.

[GraceG]

With China and nork threat, I don’t blame the Japanese to start arming up both for the regular battle and the cloak and dagger games.

[jcon40]

My how a few decades can change who can be friends

[Ken H]

Good to see Japan and Oz getting on. Good for us Yanks to have them both as allies.

[Candor7]

The Ninja are being reborn. This is a good thing in the short term.

Good for Australia!

[Candor7]

Good for us Yanks to have them both as allies.>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Thanks to the Won, don’t bet your bottom bippy on our continuing alliance with Japan. 10 years ago , Japan would be trained by the Christians In Action.The Kempeitai were very bad people, lets hope the Oz trained version is much on the up.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kempeitai

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Obola’s got two more years to f it up.

[CitizenUSA]

The Japanese are nice, peace-loving people—so much so that it’s difficult for me to believe they were ever as brutal as I know they once were. Regardless, peaceful people are easy targets for aggressive nations, and there’s no shortage of the latter. Even worse, Japan cannot count on the present American administration. The Japanese better prepare for conflict. The Chinese certainly are.

[Wilhelm Tell]

“Good to see Japan and Oz getting on. Good for us Yanks to have them both as allies.”

Obama still has almost two years to declare war on Australia and Japan and make the U.S. a satellite of North Korea. It wouldn’t be much crazier than anything else Obama has done.

[Savage Beast]

As the United States continues its descent into the hellhole of decadence and the powerful nations of the Pacific rim--notably China--become more aggressive, it will become increasingly important for Australians to increase their defense capabilities--unless, of course, Australia should follow North America and Europe into the hellhole.

Australia's military power will have to increase, and she will have to build alliances in the area, probably with India and South Korea as well as Japan. She will also have to take a protective stance over New Zealand.

To do otherwise would be to surrender to Chinese imperialism, something that Australians will not want to do, unless, of course, they are too entrenched in Western decadence to bother with their survival.

Anyone! Right? Wrong? Sane? Crazy? Near the beam? Completely off it?

[Fred Nerks]

Now there's an image to make an Aussie Returned Soldier's blood run cold. I hope they design a more suitable uniform for the new mob, something less like a carbon copy of the SS.

[Candor7]

That history of fascism must be transcended. Lets hope that OZ can train ‘em and drain ‘em.