The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs faced a significant breach in 2020 when classified diplomatic documents were leaked following cyberattacks suspected to be orchestrated by China, according to a government source speaking to Kyodo news agency. The attack, which occurred during Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s tenure, targeted diplomatic telegrams exchanged between the ministry and its international missions. Despite the detection of the breach, details regarding the extent and content of the leaked information remain undisclosed.
Following the cyberattack, both Tokyo and Washington engaged in discussions regarding potential countermeasures to address the breach. Japanese government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi refrained from providing specifics on the incident during a press conference, citing the confidential nature of the matter. However, he emphasized the ministry’s commitment to bolstering information security and confidentiality measures.
This breach highlights Japan’s ongoing struggle with cybersecurity vulnerabilities, particularly concerning diplomatic communications, prompting concerns from its key ally, the United States. While Japan has pledged to strengthen its cybersecurity measures in response to such attacks, progress has been slow, with no specific legislation introduced and national-level negotiations stalled.
The incident underscores the growing importance of robust cybersecurity defenses in safeguarding national security and critical infrastructure, urging Japan to accelerate its efforts in this area to mitigate future risks of cyberattacks.
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