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Japan SDF scandals likely to hit tax hike plan, int'l security ties

23 Comments
By eita Nakamura

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they had common root causes of "lack of compliance among the troops and governance ability" within the SDF and its "organizational culture," which includes deliberately overlooking internal wrongdoing.

Want more strict but at the some time want to attract more recruits? Lately they having difficulty in recruitment.

https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Defense/Japan-Self-Defense-Forces-miss-recruitment-goal-by-half

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Under three key security documents revised in 2022, Tokyo aims to nearly double annual defense outlays to about 2 percent of gross domestic product in five years through fiscal 2027 by allocating a total of 43 trillion yen ($273 billion) from fiscal 2023.

JGovt approach when everything failed, just raise tax. Even currently ordinary Taro still struggling with daily price increase.

-8 ( +8 / -16 )

Mishandling security documents might impact with US military decisions.

Cheating to obtain free meals would not.

US has made a strategic decision to control China , with all the ramifications, expected and not expected, so that decision will move forward .

Japan will still be a part of the process, maybe bumped down a peg or two.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

More tax hikes?

We'd better get rid of the LDP before the country is bankrupt!

4 ( +12 / -8 )

That is what has blown my mind about this remilitarization effort, the lack of public debate.

"People will cast a sterner eye on defense expenditures, so it would be better to have a national debate again on whether such a huge budget is truly needed," Kumano added.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

They knew about this before, but waited until the Diet session was out so that the LDP and Kishida wouldn't have to deal with it on TV. Incompetence starts at the top.

6 ( +9 / -3 )

They are just following the example of their Government ministers.

-5 ( +4 / -9 )

The new fiscal year started in April of this year and the first portion of the increased defense budget has already been paid. By tax? No. By issuing government bonds, of course. There’s no need to raise taxes to finance the bigger defense budget.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Give it up. Deficits and fiscal policy do have tangible economic impacts. See the $/¥ exchange rate.

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

The scandals might be defined as being within the defense department, but don’t they ultimately belong to the ruling party?

Isn’t it time for some new ideas and new faces in Japanese government?

4 ( +5 / -1 )

has dealt a blow to the government that plans to significantly increase national defense spending

then there's only one solution. get rid of the current government and it's "Plans"

-2 ( +4 / -6 )

If only, but one thing the current government has made clear is that they will force spending even when the population is clearly against it.

At much this will affect recruiting, so people that put some value in their reputation will choose not to be involved with the SDF, so I would expect the future recruits to include gradually more and more individuals that will cause further scandals.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

DON'T raise my taxes any more!! I'm barely making it as it is.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

tax increases that require broad public understanding

please understand that you have no choice.... (^_-)

-5 ( +3 / -8 )

You can increase spending easily. Just take the money out of these politician's wallets.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

There you go. That's the Government solution for everything. Just raise taxes more or add more taxes, like this year's child support and forest tax, which no media in Japan made 1 single article about them. They increased the already very high medical insurance tax, especially if you have bigger, honest earn salary, now they want extra taxes for defense budget.

-6 ( +3 / -9 )

Abe started this by increasing the military budget to record highs every year he was in office during his second stint as pm.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

"Then Adm. Ryo Sakai, chief of staff of the MSDF, got a pay cut, while Vice Defense Minister Kazuo Masuda and four other top uniformed officers were admonished for their inadequate control and supervision over those serving under them."

So, a pay cut to the guy for the guy who's not even Admiral anymore, and an admonishment to others. Yup, that regains my trust completely!

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

If the Japanese public are so fed up with the current LDP party, they have a very low rating in the poles, why dont they call for a general election? In the UK the conservative party was at an all time low in the rantings, we were sick and tired of scandal and sleaze, and miss use of public funds, is it not time that Japan had a shake up of its political parties, this way things may change in the accountability of companies, and SDF,

2 ( +4 / -2 )

the government of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida seeks to drastically boost Japan's defense budget, partly through tax increases that require broad public understanding

I suggest if taxes are raised any further than the Hina Maru on the Japanese national flag be replaced with a squashed lemon since the current government is just squeezing juice out of its citizenry.

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

That is what has blown my mind about this remilitarization effort, the lack of public debate.

Its a good thing your not a Chinese taxpayer then. You think lack of public debate on this issue is bad in Japan, but not only is such a topic banned from public debate and scrutiny in China, but all other topics are also banned. Be thankful Japanese have the right to vote out of office a government they dont want, because in China they have no choice but to accept everything bad and wrong that their government does.

As long as Japanese territory and interests remain in danger Japan will have all the justification they need to keep improving their defensive capabilities. China will see to that.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

Penalty to politicians is only 10% salary cut to defense minister despite unprecedented scandals. Arrested SDF members were not prosecuted despite illegal act.

Thoughtless arms race policy by LDP regime is also to profit arms industries who donate contribution to LDP, they will continue initial plan arrogantly no matter how opposition from public unless regime change.

But, many Japanese general public already facing poverty or difficulties on life have no room to endure hike tax.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Peter14July 20  03:00 pm JST

Be thankful Japanese have the right to vote out of office a government they dont want, because in China they have no choice but to accept everything bad and wrong that their government does.

Most people in Japan don't vote for the LDP but somehow Japan is lumbered with them and their neverending litany of scandals, sleaze, nepotism and incompetence.

As long as Japanese territory and interests remain in danger Japan will have all the justification they need to keep improving their defensive capabilities. China will see to that.

Do you think Japan stands much of a chance in a conflict with this gang of morons in charge?

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Brian WhewayJuly 20  02:01 pm JST

If the Japanese public are so fed up with the current LDP party, they have a very low rating in the poles, why dont they call for a general election?

Maybe because they know the prime minister decides the dates for general elections and he'll ignore them.

In the UK the conservative party was at an all time low in the rantings, we were sick and tired of scandal and sleaze, and miss use of public funds, is it not time that Japan had a shake up of its political parties, this way things may change in the accountability of companies, and SDF,

Yes, but for no other reason than the number of candidates it can fund the LDP is the only party that can win an outright majority. What needs to happen first is that major donors to the LDP switch to supporting the main opposition party, but that's not going to happen because they feel they're being well looked-after by their LDP cronies.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

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