Japanese diplomatic establishments in foreign countries used discretionary government funds to wine and dine visiting Diet members, a Foreign Ministry internal document revealed.
The document, which was made available Saturday, says diplomatic establishments are permitted to spend the ministry's discretionary funds to entertain Diet members without prior approval from Tokyo. The government has refused to disclose the uses to which the ministry's annual 5.5 billion yen in discretionary funds are put.
The document, which concerns the finances of diplomatic establishments, was compiled by the ministry's Financial Affairs Division in April.