Defense Minister is obsessed, will Japan be included in the Five Eyes?

(Toshihiro Yamada: International Journalist)

The other day, an article like this was published in the "Weekly Post" (September 4, 2020 issue).

"Camera made in China excluded by the United States from the equipment list of the Self-Defense Forces"

The article points out that the Self-Defense Forces are trying to procure products from Chinese surveillance camera giant Hikvision, which was banned alongside Huawei under the U.S. Defense Authority Act (NDAA). There is. It is said that the equipment list of the Self-Defense Forces was a thermography camera (heat source camera) to be used as a countermeasure against the new coronavirus infection.

If the Japanese Self-Defense Forces use the products of manufacturers that the United States is excluding for security reasons, it will of course be regarded as a problem by the United States. Especially recently, Minister of Defense Taro Kono has been eager to participate in "Five Eyes," which is a framework for sharing confidential information in which the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand are participating. The pointed out sense of the Self-Defense Forces has the potential to be "minus." It is necessary to pay close attention not only to the Self-Defense Forces but also to government-affiliated organizations.

Therefore, I would like to reconsider the Five Eyes, which the Minister of Defense is interested in. What are the benefits of participating in Japan? And is it possible to join in reality?

High hurdles to participating in the Five Eyes

Recently, the possibility of Japan's "Five Eyes participation" was noticed by Minister Kono and British House of Representatives Chairman Tom Tugenhart on July 21st. It's a telephone talk. That's where the story of the Five Eyes came out.Although there is a temperature difference in the reports of Japan and the UK, Chairman Tugenhart is on Twitter, Posting "Eyes to Six Eyes" was also a big topic.

Of course, it is great and welcome that Japan will join the Five Eyes and be able to share information in the same way as these countries. It should be a threat to China, which is arguing with Japan due to the Senkaku Islands issue, and both North Korea and Russia will feel pressure. There is no doubt that South Korea will be jealous.

But there are high hurdles to overcome.

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