More than 200 Japanese military members reprimanded over multiple scandals – Observer

Japan’s Defense Ministry announced Friday that it had imposed sanctions on 218 members of the Self-Defense Forces (army) over a series of scandals, including the mishandling of classified information.

Eleven elements were expelled, two were demoted, 83 were suspended, 14 received salary reductions and seven were formally reprimanded. The rest received reprimands or warnings..

This case, which represents the highest number of reprimands suffered by the armyprompted the Chief of Staff of the Naval Self-Defense Force, Admiral Ryo Sakai, to announce his resignation, effective July 19.

Vice Defense Minister Kazuo Masuda and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Yoshihide Yoshida were also reprimanded.

The reasons for the reprimands include, among others, the improper handling of confidential information and abuses such as having received subsidies for diving training and tasks that they did not perform, amounting to around 43 million yen (248 thousand euros).

Taiwan sees highest number of Chinese incursions in a single day since October 2021

The scandal comes as the Asian country has been beefing up its defense capabilities in the face of rising tensions in the Taiwan Strait and growing cooperation between Russia and North Korea, which has worried Tokyo and its allies.

South Korea, Japan and US condemn pact between Pyongyang and Moscow