- Title: File footage of Japan's defence minister
- Date: 27th July 2017
- Summary: TOKYO, JAPAN (FILE - AUGUST 3, 2016) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** INADA STANDING AMONGST OTHER NEWLY NOMINATED MINISTERS FOR PHOTO OPPORTUNITY JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER SHINZO ABE LOOKING ON / INADA LOOKING ON PHOTO SESSION IN PROGRESS Japan's Defence Minister Tomomi Inada, 58, was the conservative protégé of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe who was once touted as his possible successor, after joining his cabinet in 2016. Critics said Inada, who shares Abe's conservative views about adopting a less apologetic tone towards Japan's role in World War Two, had proved too inexperienced for the key defence portfolio. She was also under fire for several gaffes and missteps that were said to be hitting Abe's support ratings. TOKYO, JAPAN (FILE - SEPTEMBER 5, 2016) (REUTERS) INADA WALKING IN FOR MEDIA INTERVIEW INADA SPEAKING ABOUT NORTH KOREAN THREAT TO JAPAN INADA WALKING AWAY One of the major defence challenges faced by Inada during her term had been the threat from North Korea, which upped their defiance of U.N. Security Council sanctions with a series of ballistic missile and nuclear tests since January 2016. Some of the missile tests hit Japan's air defence identification zone.
- Embargoed: 10th August 2017 11:49
- Keywords: Japan's Defence Minister Tomomi Inada file scandal
- Location: TOKYO, CAMP ASAKA, OSAKA, JAPAN / SINGAPORE
- City: TOKYO, CAMP ASAKA, OSAKA, JAPAN / SINGAPORE
- Country: Japan
- Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0026RHSMYT
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Japanese Defence Minister Tomomi Inada will resign, broadcaster NHK said on Thursday (July 27), after a series of missteps, gaffes and a suspected cover-up that critics say contributed to a plunge in Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's support.
Inada, a conservative protege of Abe who was once floated as his possible successor, had already been expected to be replaced in a cabinet reshuffle planned for next month.
Inada in March launched a probe into media reports that defence officials had tried to hide logs showing worsening security in South Sudan, where Japanese troops were taking part in a U.N.-led peacekeeping operation. She has denied reports she was directly involved in the cover-up. - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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