Japan's female SDF member. (Image via grape)

Suga wants more women in SDF

On Wednesday's video message with the high-ranking Self-Defense Force (SDF) members, the Prime Minister of Japan, Yoshihide Suga, wanted more women to hold senior posts in the SDF. Up until now, from 90 percent SDF officials attending the meeting with the Japanese PM, only one woman was seen. Attending the video conference was also the Defense Minister, Nobuo Kishi.

Suga said that he expected more senior SDF members to be picked according to their talent and motivation for promotion, noting "regardless of their gender". The PM handed the decision to the senior members in simplifying and streamlining the tasks, hoping that a reformation might follow in the SDF.

As PM of Japan, Suga also holds a role as commander-in-chief. Therefore, it is not rare for the Japanese PM to speak to the top SDF members at the Defense Ministry. However, for 2020, the meeting was shifted online, in order to contain the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) transmission.

Not only the gender issue, but Suga also mentioned the current security environment. In order to face challenges, the PM wants SDF to expand its domains to cybersecurity, outer space, and even electromagnetic waves. Lastly, Suga wanted SDF not to falter when facing security issues.

Source: https://bit.ly/37p7NRS