Resignation of Minister of Defense

All the news media in Japan reported that Minister of Defense, Tomomi Inada, would be stepping down as soon as on Friday. Inada has reportedly approved concealing a diary of Ground Self-defense Force in United Nations Peace-keeping Operation in South Sudan last year, bringing fundamental doubt on civilian control of Shinzo Abe administration. It is likely that the resignation was not voluntary decision of Inada, but an actual discharge by Prime Minister.

In the diary, it was written that PKO troops of GSDF faced military exchange in Juba last July, which meant unconstitutionality of sending GSDF to that area. Although Ministry of Defense firstly announced that the diary had been scrapped, it was found in GSDF later. MoD staffs decided not to reveal the diary and Inada is doubted to have approved the decision. While Inada insisted that she did not know that, news media revealed the evidences of her acknowledgement, possibly based on leaks of MoD staffs.

MoD is in an internal investigation on how the diary was concealed. It has already been revealed that SGDF realized the existence of the diary as early as January 17^th. On January 27^th, Administrative Vice Chief of Staff, Masayoshi Tatsumi, told GSDF that it was impossible for them to announce the existence of the diary at the last moment. GSDF Deputy Chief of Staff, Goro Yuasa, reported Inada that GSDF had been keeping the diary on February 13^th and Inada approved it two days later. Even how many times Inada reiterates that she did not know it, it is obvious that she has been involved in concealing crucial document of GSDF.

Inada has been said as too naïve as Minister of Defense. Right after sitting on the seat last August, Inada became the first Minister of Defense who was absent from National Commemoration Ceremony for War Victims, to which even the Emperor would participate every year. In the election campaign of Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly last month, Inada made a false speech, in which she promised firm support of Self-defense Force for a candidate with Liberal Democratic Party. SDF has to be politically neutral.

It is inevitable that Prime Minister Abe will be blamed as the appointer. Inada has been one of the most favorite allies of Abe and he wanted to educate her for future Prime Minister. While Abe tried to let Inada stay until next reshuffle of his Cabinet early next month, the impact of the scandal did not allow it. Abe seems to appoint one of the Ministers in Abe Cabinet for acting Minister of Defense until the reshuffle. But, it is the time when North Korea is preparing for next ballistic missile launch or nuclear test. Japan is politically vulnerable now.