The Next Step in the UK-Japan Cyber Partnership

Key Chapter Title List

1. UK-Japan Cyber Ecosystem Landscape
2. Cyber Cooperation: Progress to Date
3. Strategic Synergy
4. Strategic Considerations and Recommendations
5. National Cyber Posture and Governance
6. Drivers for Bilateral Cyber Cooperation
7. Common Misunderstandings
8. Partnership Activities and Participants
9. Cyber Resilience Ecosystem
10. Advancing Shared International Interests
11. Capacity Building
12. Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs)

Document Introduction

The signing of the Hiroshima Accord in May 2023 established the framework for the UK-Japan strategic partnership, explicitly listing cyber cooperation as a core commitment in the defense and security domain, aiming to build a "comprehensive" bilateral cyber collaboration system. As global cyber threats intensify—from ransomware attacks to state-sponsored cyber infiltration—the UK and Japan, as key actors in the cybersecurity field, urgently need to consolidate their cooperative momentum, overcome existing obstacles, and further enhance synergy in the cyber domain. This report focuses on the current state and future trajectory of the UK-Japan cyber partnership, providing a systematic review and in-depth analysis of this emerging bilateral cooperation mechanism.

The report first analyzes the respective cyber ecosystem characteristics of the UK and Japan, including national cyber posture, governance structures, and strategic planning. The UK has established a centralized governance model through the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) founded in 2016, while Japan is promoting the reform and restructuring of the National Center of Incident Readiness and Strategy for Cybersecurity (NISC) to strengthen cross-ministerial coordination capabilities. Both countries face common challenges such as a shortage of cyber talent and escalating technological threats, while also sharing consensus on governance concepts like "whole-of-society engagement" and "whole-of-nation approach," laying the groundwork for bilateral cooperation.

Based on empirical research conducted from November 2023 to February 2024, the report systematically outlines cooperation activities between the UK and Japan in areas such as capacity building, public-private partnerships, and advancing international interests, including specific measures like joint military exercises, technical certifications, and personnel exchanges. The research employs qualitative methods such as rapid evidence assessment, 29 semi-structured interviews, and roundtable discussions, covering diverse stakeholders from the governments, private sectors, and civil societies of both countries to ensure objective and comprehensive analysis.

The report focuses on the strategic synergy between the cyber partnership and the Hiroshima Accord, noting that cybersecurity is both an independent area of cooperation within the bilateral relationship and an enabler for cooperation in other areas such as defense industry and economic security. The advancement of major collaborative projects like the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) further highlights the foundational role of cybersecurity in safeguarding broad-spectrum cooperation. Simultaneously, the report reveals challenges in bilateral cooperation, such as terminology misunderstandings, language barriers, and capability perception gaps, which have somewhat affected the pace and scope of collaboration.

Building on strategic considerations, the report proposes specific recommendations across four core directions: First, strengthening capacity building through training, exchanges, and exercises, and establishing effective information and intelligence sharing mechanisms. Second, expanding public-private partnerships to promote regional cyber cluster cooperation and the interconnection of industry-specific Information Sharing and Analysis Centers (ISACs). Third, advancing shared international interests, including conducting cyber capacity building in ASEAN and the broader Indo-Pacific region, and jointly promoting international rules and norms in cyberspace. Fourth, building a cyber resilience ecosystem by deepening bilateral coordination in government structures, legislative regulation, and professional standards. These recommendations provide a clear action framework for the UK-Japan cyber partnership to enter its second phase of development, aiming to propel bilateral cooperation from existing areas to deeper and broader dimensions, achieving mutual resilience and strategic win-win outcomes.