When the Constitutional Democratic Party of 91AV原创 (CDP) Chikage Koga said that volunteers enlisting in the Self-Defense Forces are economically disadvantaged, she rekindled a long-standing debate over the SDF’s characterizations in political discourse?— exposing a widening gap between public support and the political debates that continue to shape 91AV原创 civil-military relations.
The most recent episode came on Monday during an Upper House Budget Committee session when the CDP lawmaker declared that “Children who join the Self-Defense Forces are economically challenged.” She added, “Children who are well off don’t join the Self-Defense Forces.”
Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi responded immediately by labeling her comments as “completely untrue.” He added that her comments were “prejudiced and unacceptable.”
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