Japan seeking investigation into US spying claim

Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe asked US vice president Joe Biden on Wednesday for an investigation into possible spying on high-level Japanese government and corporate officials following WikiLeaks' release last week of a list of spying targets, Japan's top government spokesman said on Wednesday.

"If it is true that these Japanese individuals were targeted, it could shake the relationship of trust in our alliance and I would have to express serious concerns," Japan's chief cabinet secretary Yoshihide Suga quoted Mr Abe as telling Mr Biden in a phone conversation.

WikiLeaks released a list of 35 secret Japanese targets of spying by the US National Security Agency, including ministry officials in Mr Abe's government, as well as the natural gas division of Mitsubishi and the petroleum division of Mitsui & Co.

Mr Suga told a news conference that Mr Biden apologised for the trouble that the matter had caused the premier and people in his administration. Mr Suga declined to comment on whether the United States had admitted to spying on Japan.

On Tuesday, Mr Biden reassured Mr Abe that the US limits its surveillance of friendly nations.

The response appeared to come in the phone call with Mr Biden, who has an established relationship with Mr Abe after years of in-person diplomacy.

"The vice president reaffirmed the United States' commitment made by president Obama in a 2014 presidential directive to focus our intelligence collection on national security interests," the White House said in a brief statement describing the call.

Agencies