The Daily Manila Shimbun

 

Inada draws fire over SDF remarks during LDP campaign

June 28, 2017

Tokyo- Japanese Defense Minister Tomomi Inada has come under fire following her controversial reference to the Self-Defense Forces during the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's campaign for the upcoming Tokyo metropolitan assembly election. At a campaign event for an LDP candidate in Itabashi Ward on Tuesday, Inada said, "On behalf of the Defense Ministry, the SDF and the LDP, and as defense minister, I ask for your support (for the candidate)."

The event took place near the Ground SDF's Camp Nerima.
In the wake of the remarks, opposition parties criticized Inada for using the SDF for political purposes.
Inada's remarks may have apparently violated the SDF law, which restricts political activities by Defense Ministry officials and SDF members, barring them from backing candidates in local assembly elections.
Later on Tuesday night, Inada told reporters, "I want to retract the remarks," which she admitted are "misleading." She denied any intention to resign over the remarks.
The remarks in question "constitute her political use of the SDF and cannot be tolerated," Renho, leader of the main opposition Democratic Party, said in a statement. "She should resign immediately," the DP leader stressed.
"It's absolutely unacceptable to use the SDF, which must be the most neutral entity of all, for the sake of an election," Akira Koike, chief secretary of the Japanese Communist Party, said on Twitter.
The leader of Japan's main opposition Democratic Party on Wednesday demanded the removal of Inada if she refuses to resign over her controversial remarks about the Self-Defense Forces.
"She has no choice but to step down voluntarily or to be removed by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe," DP leader Renho told reporters.
 Later on Tuesday, Inada said the remarks were misleading and that she wanted to retract them.
"The remarks violate Article 15 of the constitution, the public offices election law and the SDF law," Renho said, claiming that what Inada said contradicts laws that stipulate the political neutrality of civil servants and SDF members.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, Japan's top government spokesman, indicated that he saw no need for Inada to step down, although he said the remarks are "obviously misleading." (Jiji Press)

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