Defense Minister Tomomi Inada suggested Tuesday that the Self-Defense Forces support a Liberal Democratic Party candidate running in Sunday’s Tokyo Metropo
Defense Minister Tomomi Inada suggested Tuesday that the Self-Defense Forces support a Liberal Democratic Party candidate running in Sunday’s Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election, sparking criticism from opposition lawmakers that her remarks amounted to political use of the nation’s defense apparatus.
In a stump speech at a campaign rally in Tokyo’s Itabashi Ward, Inada asked voters to cast ballots for her party’s candidate, saying the request came from “the Defense Ministry, the SDF, the defense minister and the LDP.” Hours later, she told reporters she will “withdraw” the remarks on the grounds they can be “misunderstood.”
Inada’s original remarks appeared to deviate from the principle of neutrality expected of an administrative branch. A law governing the SDF imposes restrictions on the political activities of their personnel.
An SDF officer said Inada has given the impression she “unilaterally used” the SDF even though SDF personnel are not allowed to make political statements. “I’ m afraid people may misunderstand that all SDF personnel support the LDP, ” the officer said.
The remarks by Inada, a lawyer-turned-lawmaker, could deal a fresh blow to the government of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and the LDP, with both under pressure due to the ruling coalition’s handling of controversial “conspiracy” legislation and allegations that Abe used his influence to enable the opening of a university department by an educational group run by a close friend.
