Tokyo, Sept. 18 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government will set up at its National Security Secretariat an economic division to formulate strategic economic policies, informed sources said Wednesday.

The prime minister’s office hopes to lead moves to achieve the concept of economic security, or national security attained through economic policies, the sources said.

In recent years, links between diplomatic and national security policies and economic policies are becoming stronger as seen in the U.S. exclusion of Chinese products to prevent cyberattacks.

The NSS is the secretariat of the National Security Council, made up of the chairman, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and some cabinet ministers. It currently has six divisions–one each for general affairs, intelligence and strategy planning and three for policy planning.

The secretariat is composed mainly of middle-ranking officials of the foreign and defense ministries and the National Police Agency. The new economic division is expected to have members from the industry and finance ministries.

In line with the Sept. 11 reshuffle of the cabinet, Shigeru Kitamura, former cabinet intelligence director and a former NPA official, became secretary-general of the NSS to replace its first chief, Shotaro Yachi.