In a major embarrassment for Japan, the defence ministry on Friday announced disciplinary action against over 200 senior officials over misconduct and mishandling of classified materials.
The Ministry and its Self Defence Forces have been under scrutiny over allegations that members of the Navy violated the sensitive information protection law. The members were also accused of misconduct like falsely claiming allowances for special assignments, or wrongfully claiming free meals at base cafeterias.
Abuses of power were also alleged against the ministerial staff.
While apologising Defence Minister Minoru Kihara said the problems were significantly damaging to the public trust for the ministry and Japan's defence forces.
According to Kihara, the ministry's investigation found that classified information was mishandled on 38 destroyers and submarines. However, he assured that no sensitive information was leaked outside of the military.
It was also found that people without appropriate clearances were routinely assigned to duties that involved sensitive information.
The issue is an embarrassment at a time when Tokyo's efforts are on to work more closely with the United States and other partners amid growing China's threat. It is also at a time when Japan is accelerating its military cooperation with Australia, the UK and other Western partners.
Ensuring intelligence protection is extremely important for our cooperation with the allies and other like-minded countries, and we should never let this kind of problem happen again, Kihara said. He vowed to carry out preventive measures so that we would not breach trust with other countries.
Earlier this year, Japan passed a new security law that tightened rules on handling sensitive information.
Kihara said he is giving up his salary for a month, but that his responsibility is to stay on and continue the reform of the organization 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 Defense Ministry and the Self Defense Force under my leadership as quickly as possible and regain the public trust, Kihara said.
