Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told US vice president Joe Biden that he would have "serious concerns" if WikiLeaks claims ...
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told US vice president Joe Biden that he would have "serious concerns" if WikiLeaks claims that Washington spied on Japanese politicians were true, and called for an investigation into the matter, a top official said on Wednesday. Prime Minister Abe also called for an investigation into the matter during a phone call with U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, according to Japan's top government spokesman, Yoshihide Suga.
"If it is true these Japanese individuals were targeted, it could shake the relationship of trust in our alliance and I would have to express serious concerns," Suga quoted Abe as telling Biden.Media whistleblower WikiLeaks last week published documents it says show the U.S. spied on 35 companies, government ministries, and individuals in Japan and said the intercepts related to topics such as U.S.-Japan relations, trade negotiations, and climate change strategy. It said the surveillance dates as far back as 2006, the first term of Prime Minister Abe. Unlike German chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande, Abe did not appear to be a direct target of wiretapping -- but other senior politicians were, according to WikiLeaks, including Trade minister Yoichi Miyazawa and Bank of Japan governor Haruhiko Kuroda were in the sights of US intelligence, WikiLeaks said.
