Politics
15:03, 27-Jul-2017
Former Japanese defense minister may replace Inada and army chief decides to resign
[]
Share
Copied
Japan's Kyodo News Agency has reported that Chief of Staff of the Ground Self-Defense Forces, General Toshiya Okabe, has decided to step down from his position due to an ongoing cover-up scandal involving him and other officials.
Defense officials are accused of hiding logs showing worsening security in South Sudan, where Japanese troops were taking part in a UN-led peacekeeping operation.
The deeply embattled Defense Minister, Tomomi Inada, has launched an investigation while denying any involvement in the scandal.
Kyodo mentioned possible candidates including Itsunori Onodera, who served as defense minister in 2012 for nearly two years.