Chief of Staff Goes Too Far

In the midst of sharp arguments over amending Constitution of Japan, the top officer of Japanese Self-defense Force inappropriately joined the discussion and went too far. Chief of the SDF Joint Staff, Admiral Katsutoshi Kawano, welcomed the discussion of writing the status of SDF in Article 9 of the Constitution, which had been proposed by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, in a press conference at Foreign Correspondent Club of Japan on Tuesday. Self-defense Force Law prohibits political activities of SDF members.

Kawano knew well about the provisions of Self-defense Force Law or other legal requirement to SDF. “On the discussion of Prime Minister Abe to change the articles of Constitution, I think it is inappropriate for me to say something in my standpoint, because amendment of Constitution is highly political issue,” said Kawano to the question about Abe’s argument. But, he added some words as a member of SDF. “If I could say as a member of SDF, I think it would be something thankful for me that a provision about status of SDF is clearly described in the Constitution,” said Kawano.

Article 99 of the Constitution obligates the public officials to respect and uphold the Constitution. In the discussion at Commission on the Constitution of House of Representatives, Kiyomi Tsujimoto with Democratic Party accused Kawano of his approval of constitutional amendment. In terms of civilian control, Kawano’s comment seemed to have gone too far. “He needs to be fired, because his comment opposed civilian control,” said Tetsushi Inoue with Japan Communist Party in the Committee on Diplomacy and Defense in House of Councillors.

Article 61 of Self-defense Force Law restricts SDF members to take political activities except exercising voting rights, run for election or take seat in political organization or party. Article 86 of Executive Order for Self-defense Force Law defines political activities as upholding or opposing specific policy in order to influence political direction. The opposite parties argue that Kawano’s comment has violated those points.

Even the ranked officers in Ministry of Defense thought the comment inappropriate as the top of SDF. But, Abe and his close staffs basically rely on Kawano in analyzing security situation. MoD postponed the date of Kawano’s retirement, once scheduled later this month. Abe or Chief Cabinet Secretary, Yoshihide Suga, looks like trying to keep SDF officers supportive for the major political agenda of amending Constitution of Japan.