The Abe administration wants to strengthen Japan's intelligence-gathering capabilities in the Middle East after the recent hostage disaster revealed its shortcomings in gaining information through military channels.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said he intends to deploy more Self-Defense Forces personnel at Japanese embassies in the region, noting it is difficult for officials outside the military to obtain intelligence provided by foreign armed forces.
To make the defense attache system effective, experts point to the need to bolster training for would-be attaches and say the government should come up with a deployment plan based on a long-term policy.