Japan Press Weekly

Tweet

2024 July 10 - 16 [SDF]

JCP Yamazoe calls for probe into SDF scandals which resulted in unprecedented mass punishment

The Defense Ministry on July 12 announced that it punished a total of 218 Self-Defense Forces members, high-ranking officers, and bureaucrats in regard to misconduct and code violations, such as the mishandling of information categorized as specially designated secrets, improper receipt of allowances by Maritime SDF members, and power harassment by ministry bureaucrats. This indicates systematic corruption in the SDF amid the Kishida government’s military buildup.

The 218 punished persons include MSDF Chief of Staff Sakai Ryo who will resign for the mishandling of special state secrets in violation of the law.

Later in the day, Japanese Communist Party Policy Commission Chair Yamazoe Taku (Upper House) at a press conference in the Diet building demanded that both chambers’ Budget Committee meetings be held during the current Diet recess with the attendance of Prime Minister Kishida Fumio in order to uncover the truth behind the SDF scandals which resulted in the mass punishment.

Among the scandals, Yamazoe, as an example, cited leaks of specially designated secrets, allowance fraud, eating and drinking at base cafeterias without paying, power harassment by senior ministry officials, and a slush fund allegation associated with a contract for submarine maintenance between the MSDF and Kawasaki Heavy Industries. He said, “These cases show that the SDF is an organization that does not abide by the law and neglects to impose internal discipline.”

Yamazoe said, “Various SDF scandals have been exposed while the Kishida government pushes forward with its huge military buildup policy based on the three key documents regarding Japan’s national security and plans to impose on the general public a heavier tax burden to cover that policy. This is totally unacceptable.”