Japan Disciplines Over 200 Defence Personnel Amid Information Security Lapses

Japan disciplined over 200 defence personnel for mishandling classified materials and other infractions, including sailors without security clearance accessing sensitive vessel tracking data. This comes as Japan seeks closer collaboration with the U.S. and other Western democracies. Major resignations and reprimands have ensued, with plans for tighter security measures.

Japan disciplined more than 200 defence personnel, including top military and bureaucratic figures, for mishandling classified material and other incidents.

This move comes as Japan seeks closer cooperation with the U.S. and Western allies, particularly in intelligence sharing, to respond to global threats like Russia's invasion of Ukraine and tensions with China. However, doubts about Japan's information handling capabilities could impede this collaboration. The head of Japan's Maritime Self Defense Force, Ryo Sakai, resigned after reports revealed sailors without security clearance accessed sensitive tracking data of foreign military ships.

General Yoshihide Yoshida, Chief of Staff of Japan's Joint Staff, along with other military branch commanders, were reprimanded but remain in their posts. Defense Minister Minoru Kihara apologized for the lapses and other infractions, including fraudulent compensation claims by SDF personnel. Kihara and Foreign Affairs Minister Yoko Kamikawa will push for closer U.S. cooperation in upcoming security talks.

Kihara stressed radical action to bolster information security, and Japan recently passed a new law to tighten rules on classified data handling and security vetting. Additional legislation is planned for proactive cyber threat countermeasures.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida acknowledged the severity of the situation, emphasizing zero tolerance for errors. The fraudulent claims and other issues are also politically embarrassing for Kishida as he aims to strengthen the military, having unveiled a plan to double defence spending to 2% of GDP in 2022 for new weaponry to deter China.