The Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan on Monday planned to lodge an official protest with the ruling Liberal Democratic Party over a bill to protect state secrets, by denouncing the legislation for being a direct threat to journalists.

FCCJ President Lucy Birmingham said in a statement released Monday on the group's website that the club is "alarmed by the text of the bill, as well as associated statements made by some ruling party lawmakers, relating to the potential targeting of journalists for prosecution and imprisonment."

The bill is aimed at tightening the government's grip on national security-related information designated as state secrets by sentencing public servants to up to 10 years in prison for leaking the classified information. Reporters could also face similar charges for obtaining such information.