Japan Replaces Navy Chief, Punishes Officials Over Scandals.

Japan has replaced the head of its navy and punished over 200 defense officials following a series of scandals, including mishandling classified information and overclaiming on pay. The misconduct, which includes making classified information accessible to unauthorized individuals and falsely claiming hazard pay, has undermined public trust and raises concerns about Tokyo's efforts to strengthen its military in response to challenges from China and North Korea. The navy, known as the Maritime Self-Defense Force, is at the center of many of the charges, and the chief of staff has announced his resignation. These revelations may also impact public support for increased defense spending, as Japan aims to raise defense outlays to 2% of GDP. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has instructed the defense minister to address the problems and restore public trust. [Extracted from the article]