The secrecy law proposed by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party would benefit U.S.-Japan security cooperation but must respect the important role played by a free press in maintaining democracy, a U.S. expert on Japanese affairs said in a recent interview.
"We do share a lot, but there has been some concern about the legal structure in Japan and I think this will make sharing easier," said Joseph Nye, former U.S. assistant secretary of defense.
Although the envisioned law could prove beneficial to bilateral relations, lawmakers must be careful to balance the needs of national security with the public's right to know, Nye said.