Japan admits it has become Russia's spy hub

Japan's government has acknowledged it needs to counter foreign espionage "with even greater rigour" after a New York Times investigation revealed Russia has turned the country into a key intelligence base, exploiting Japan's notably weak espionage laws. Moscow has been using Japan as a hub to acquire weapons components and run intelligence operations, the report found — a significant embarrassment for a US ally that has been supplying Ukraine with non-lethal aid. Japan currently lacks a dedicated counter-espionage statute, making prosecution of foreign agents unusually difficult.