Ju-min Park

TOKYO, Reuters – Japan asks universities to be more vigilant about foreign scholars and students in order to protect its national security and to preserve exchanges with European and U.S universities.

Experts say Japan is a weak link due to its unchecked acceptance of foreign students. While most Western countries do have strict screening procedures and sanctions for violations, there are many other Western countries that take steps to stop espionage.

Officials claim that Japan was awakened by the U.S. arrests recently made of Chinese academics under suspicion of spying.

A Japanese official from the trade ministry said that export controls have become more strict around foreign countries like China. He helped colleges to develop methods for monitoring high-risk technology transfer and student students.

According to the official, “We want Japanese universities be trusted in their security and trade controls” so that joint research can be continued with the United States or Europe.

Economic security is a crucial area for diplomatic cooperation and top priorities in a world of supply chain disruptions that can cause severe damage, theft of intellectual property, and cyberattacks.

Officials said that Japan needs to improve in that area.

In conjunction with the new economic security bill, this month, the government is attempting to intensify monitoring of academic institutions.

Fumio Biden, the visiting U.S. president, and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida are likely to renew Western cooperation in technology and supply chain issues as tensions with China grow.

RISKS THAT ARE REALLY SERIOUS

The new guidelines require universities to run background checks on all students and to flag individuals of concern, including those who have ties to defense-related organizations or foreign governments.

Prior to that, only people who were trying to send sensitive information or goods abroad had their screening done.

As an added layer, the new screening will be used to screen applicants for immigration visas.

For instance, in China, an individual who is sponsored by the government to study in Japan would not face any obstacles to completing a PhD in advanced radar technology. Then, they could return home and put their research into military use.

One scholar could have been turned down as a candidate at high risk in the United States. Universities are in a difficult spot. They can also be sued for violating export control laws.

Japan welcomed the new guidelines, according to U.S. Embassy in Japan. It sent an email to Reuters to inform that the United States will look into new ways of helping Japan’s universities and protect them against “real and grave” security threats in research.

Japan’s universities desperately need students to fill the vacancies.

China students accounted for 44% Japan’s foreign students, with the United States being the most popular destination in Japan, following China.

‘NOT Intelligence OPERATORS’

However, there are still questions about how efficient the system will work and academics believe they’re not equipped to spy on people.

This voluntary process relies only on surveys that determine if foreign students receive state grants and whether they intend to work in defense-related technologies.

Takahiko Ssaki oversees Tohoku University’s export control. He stated that his college will seek staff pledges not to use sensitive technology without authorization.

This would go on top of an already-in place policy asking students and foreign faculty to make a written commitment to Japan’s export controls regulations.

We are not intelligence agents. As a university, our responsibility should not extend beyond checking academic records and resumes.

It is well-known that immigration authorities have failed to transfer sensitive technology in the past.

Japan’s intelligence agency discovered that nine Chinese researchers were back home after having studied technologies for hypersonic weapons at Japanese institutions over many years. Media reported this year.

MasahikoHosokawa (ex-trade ministry official, who was responsible for export control) stated that universities need to have money in order to keep students coming in.

They should be able to work without Chinese nationals.