Not only did ethical conceptions moderate the behavior of rulers, but, very explicitly in the Tokugawa period, complaints from commoners and even revolts were justified in the name of ethical failure of those above — their lack of «benevolent rule.»
It doesn't take a political scientist to see it: The NAR bureaucracy fears that by taking the ethical highroad — prohibiting all non-agency — it'll lose the membership dues of those members who place monetary profit aboveethicalbehavior and the public welfare.