Australia receiving US intelligence on trade negotiations, according to reports

AUSTRALIA is receiving secret US intelligence on Japanese trade negotiations, according to newly published WikiLeaks documents.

The Saturday Paper has reported the US National Security Agency routinely obtains highly sensitive information on issues including US-Japanese relations, trade issues and climate change policy. The information, some of which is collected from discussions in Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s official residence, is shared with Australia, the newspaper says.

Another NSA target is the minister for economy, trade and industry, Yoichi Miyazawa.

Major Japanese companies such as Mitsubishi’s natural gas division and Mitsui Corporation are also being targeted.

The US, Japan and Australia are currently involved in talks in Hawaii to conclude the trans-Pacific Partnership free trade agreement.

Japan is one of Washington’s key allies in the Asia-Pacific region and they regularly consult on defence, economic and trade issues, French news agency AFP reports.

“The reports demonstrate the depth of US surveillance of the Japanese government, indicating that intelligence was gathered and processed from numerous Japanese government ministries and offices,” WikiLeaks said on Friday.

“The documents demonstrate intimate knowledge of internal Japanese deliberations” on trade issues, nuclear and climate change policy, and Tokyo’s diplomatic relations with Washington, it said. The group also pointed to intercepts about “sensitive climate change strategy” and the “content of a confidential prime ministerial briefing that took place at (Prime Minister) Shinzo Abe’s official residence”.

There is no specific mention of wire-tapping Abe, but senior politicians were targeted, including Miyazawa, while Bank of Japan governor Haruhiko Kuroda was also in the sights of US intelligence, WikiLeaks said.

There was no immediate reaction from Tokyo, AFP reported.

Read more @ http://www.news.com.au/technology/online/australia-receiving-us-intelligence-on-trade-negotiations-according-to-reports/story-fnjwnfzw-1227465458139

In Citizen Four Snowden said the spying is to compete with other countries and have the advantage over them..... smiley: eyes  Its not about terrorism.... its about power and economic espionage...etc.  smiley: frown 


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