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In short:

Japan’s defence ministry and forces are under scrutiny over allegations members of the navy violated the sensitive information protection law, falsely claimed allowances for special assignments, and wrongfully claimed free meals at base cafeterias. 

Of the 218 people disciplined, 11 senior officials were dismissed, two were demoted, dozens suspended and 14 received pay cuts

 

What's next?

Defence Minister Minoru Kihara pledged to quickly carry out preventive measures "so that we will not breach trust with other countries".

Japan’s defence ministry has announced disciplinary action against more than 200 senior officials and service members over the mishandling of classified materials and other misconduct.

The announcement on July 12 could undermine Tokyo’s efforts to work more closely with the United States and other partners in the face of China’s growing threat.

The ministry and its Self Defence Forces have been under scrutiny over allegations that members of the navy violated the sensitive information protection law, as well as other misconduct such as falsely claiming allowances for special assignments, or wrongfully claiming free meals at base cafeterias. 

Ministerial staff were also accused of abuses of power.
Of the 218 people disciplined, 11 senior officials were dismissed, two were demoted, dozens suspended and 14 received pay cuts, while about half of them were warned.

Among senior commanders and defence ministry officials to face discipline, head of Maritime Self Defence Force, Admiral Ryo Sakai, was to resign to take responsibility over some of the misconducts, to be replaced by Akira Saito, currently Self Defence Fleet commander in chief, the minister announced.

Defence Minister Minoru Kihara apologised, saying the problems were “significantly damaging to the public trust” for the ministry and Japan’s defence forces. 

"I’m keenly aware of my responsibility," Mr Kihara said. 
He blamed a lack of discipline across the organisation.

 

No sensitive information leaked

Mr Kihara said the ministry’s investigation found that classified information was mishandled on 38 destroyers and submarines.

However, he said no sensitive information leaked outside the military or caused any harm. 

People without appropriate clearances were routinely assigned to duties that involved sensitive information.

 

'We will not breach trust with other countries'

With Japan accelerating military cooperation with the US, Australia, the UK and other western partners, the issue could undermine its reputation as a trusted defence partner.

"Ensuring intelligence protection is extremely important for our cooperation with the ally and other like-minded countries, and we should never let this kind of problem happen again," Mr Kihara said. 

He pledged to quickly carry out preventive measures "so that we will not breach trust with other countries".

Mr Kihara said he was giving up his salary for one month, but that his responsibility was to stay on and continue the reform of the organisation instead of stepping down.

"At a time when we cannot let our guard down even for a second … it is my responsibility to do everything to rebuild the Defence Ministry and the Self Defence Force under my leadership as quickly as possible and regain the public trust," he said.

Last Friday, the 548-page Defence White Paper warned of a worsening security environment, citing threats such as China’s growing tension with the self-governed island of Taiwan, as well as North Korea’s advancing missile and nuclear capabilities and its ballistic missile shipments to Russia to aide the country’s war on Ukraine.

Japan particularly worries about rising tensions between Beijing and Taipei because any conflict on Taiwan could quickly spill over to the south-western Japanese islands. 

Japan’s western-most island of Yonaguni sits only 110 kilometres east of Taiwan.