Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, flanked by by Vice President Joseph Biden (L) and House Speaker John Boehner (R), speaks to a joint session of the United State Congress in the House chamber of the U.S. Capitol on April 29, 2015 in Washington, DC. Abe became the first Japanese Prime Minister to address a joint meeting of Congress. File Photo by Pat Benic/UPI |
License Photo
TOKYO, Aug. 5 (UPI) -- Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe articulated "serious concern" to U.S. Vice President Joe Biden over apparent spying by the United States on Japanese politicians and businesses.
During a phone call with Biden, Abe called for an investigation to be launched due to the recent Wikileaks whistleblowing website documents that show the U.S.'s National Security Agency spied on 35 Japanese politicians, cabinet officials and corporations, including Abe and car manufacturing giant Mitsubishi.
"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," Yoshihide Suga, Japan's top government spokesman, quoted Abe as telling Biden.
The documents detail internal Japanese discussions on issues that include trade, climate change and nuclear policy. The documents also indicate the U.S. spied on Bank of Japan officials, Mitsubishi and Matsui.
The Wikileaks documents lists 35 phone numbers targeted by the NSA, dating at least eight years back. Wikileaks said the U.S. passed the information to Australia, Canada, Great Britain and New Zealand, the so-called "Five Eyes" group.
The U.S. and Japan have been allies since the end of World War II. Previous Wikileaks finds indicate the U.S. has spied on Germany, France and Brazil, all of which are allies.
During the conversation, Biden reaffirmed the United States' "strong commitment to the U.S.-Japan alliance and thanked Prime Minister Abe for his enduring partnership," according to the White House.
Amy R. Connolly contributed to this report.
