News On Japan

China breached Japan's classified defense networks, The Washington Post reports

Aug 08 (NHK) - A leading US newspaper says Chinese military hackers compromised Japan's classified defense networks three years ago.

The Washington Post on Monday revealed the alleged cybersecurity breach by the Chinese military, citing sources in both Japan and the United States.

The report says, "Cyberspies from the People's Liberation Army had wormed their way into Japan's most sensitive computer systems."

It also says, "The hackers had deep, persistent access and appeared to be after anything they could get their hands on -- plans, capabilities, assessments of military shortcomings."

Washington Post: China hacked Japan's sensitive defense networks, officials say

The US National Security Agency reportedly discovered the breach.

The White House deputy national security adviser and other senior US officials flew to Tokyo to brief Japan's defense minister. They described China's breach as "one of the most damaging hacks in that country's modern history."

The administration of US President Joe Biden was informed in January 2021 that Chinese spies were still in Japan's defense networks and that Japan's measures were not sufficient.

In November that year, a senior White House official in charge of cybersecurity visited Japan and discussed with Japanese officials how to respond to the Chinese hackers.

The Washington Post quote US officials as saying, "Tokyo has taken steps to strengthen its networks. But they are still deemed not sufficiently secure from Beijing's prying eyes, which could impede greater intelligence sharing between the Pentagon and Japan's Defense Ministry."

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Japan's Defense Minister Hamada Yasukazu said that he would not elaborate on the matter as it concerns capabilities of the defense ministry and the Self-Defense Force.

Hamada said that he has not confirmed any leaks of classified information kept by the ministry.

He said that Japan has taken a range of effective measures, and the Self-Defense Force's activities to complete its missions have never been affected by a cyberattack.

Source: ANNnewsCH

News On Japan
POPULAR NEWS

A deepening labor shortage in Japan’s construction industry is beginning to impact homebuyers, with some experiencing delays of more than six months before construction can even begin due to a lack of available carpenters.

From April 1st, a new regulation took effect across Osaka Prefecture requiring all restaurants with a customer seating area larger than 30 square meters to become entirely smoke-free indoors—unless they install a designated smoking room. Establishments violating the rule face fines of up to 50,000 yen, while customers may be fined up to 30,000 yen.

The Imperial Household Agency launched an official YouTube channel on April 1st to introduce the activities of Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako.

Japan's new fiscal year began on April 1st, with companies across the country holding entrance ceremonies to welcome new employees.

The Japanese government has released an updated damage forecast for a potential Nankai Trough megaquake, estimating that up to 298,000 people could die in the worst-case scenario. This projection reflects a slight reduction from the previous estimate of 332,000 deaths made 13 years ago.

MEDIA CHANNELS
         

MORE Politics NEWS

Japan's national budget for the new fiscal year is now set to pass within the current fiscal term, following an unusual set of deliberations in the Diet on March 28th.

Japan is busily laying the groundwork for a state visit by Xi Jinping, in what has now become a roughly once-in-a-decade occurrence. The last visit was derailed by COVID-19. (East Asia Forum)

Japan is facing a pivotal moment in pension reform as the government prepares to revise its system for the first time in five years. With a shrinking workforce and an aging population, the pension system is under pressure, prompting new proposals that could impact millions.

The foreign ministers of Japan, China and South Korea have agreed to promote future-oriented cooperation in tackling common issues, and accelerate arrangements to hold a trilateral summit in Japan as early as possible. (NHK)

A third-party panel investigating allegations of power harassment against Hyogo Governor Motohiko Saito submitted its findings to the prefectural government on March 19th, concluding that ten instances of his conduct constituted workplace harassment.

A recent incident involving the attack on Takashi Tachibana has raised concerns over the lack of available information about the suspect, Miyanishi. Despite the rapid flow of information in the digital age, very little has surfaced regarding his background beyond his residence and employment status.

The controversy surrounding Prime Minister Ishiba’s 100,000-yen voucher program continued to face scrutiny in the Diet on Monday, with opposition parties intensifying their criticism. Within the ruling party, concerns are mounting that Ishiba may be an electoral liability.

Okinawa’s ruling and opposition lawmakers failed to reach a consensus on March 13th regarding revisions to the 2025 fiscal general budget, with the Washington office’s operational expenses emerging as a key point of contention. The debate remained deadlocked.