Japan military may run out of gas money this year

TOKYO: Japan’s military may use up its annual fuel budget months early this year, despite running some ships and planes at low power and cutting back on major exercises.

Faced with fuel costs that exceed spending plans by 60 percent, the Self Defense Force has scaled back training missions involving jets and ships, vehicles are being run at slower speeds, and more passengers are being squeezed in per trip in order to conserve fuel, a Defense Ministry spokeswoman said on condition of anonymity, citing protocol.


“If fuel prices keep increasing we won’t be able to cover it, and we will have to make a request to ensure we have sufficient funds,” the spokeswoman said.

She refused to say the fuel shortage would affect Japan’s foreign operations, such as dispatches in support of U.S.-led forces in Iraq, but she denied that the country’s defense would be compromised.

It was unclear when the country’s military would run out of gas under current conditions, though broadcaster NHK said the fuel budget would run out in November, over four months before the end of the fiscal year in March.

IHT