China's state-run paper warns of new Japanese leader Abe's 'hard line stance'
Tokyo, Dec 18 (ANI)
A government run newspaper in China has warned against the hardline stance of Japan's Liberal Democratic Party leader Shinzo Abe, who is set to become the country's next prime minister.
An editorial in Chinese Communist Party newspaper, the People's Daily, said that China would be closely watching how Japan's next administration, to be led by Abe, would sort out the current chaotic situation in the country.
"Visits to war-related Yasukuni Shrine by prime ministers, the territorial dispute over the East China Sea islets known as Senkakus in Japan and Diaoyu in China, and issues related to Japan's Constitution are key fundamental issues," the paper added.
According to the Japan Times, the editorial also said that any of these issues should not be allowed to remain vague, warning against Japan's perceived nationalism and possible tilt to the right.
The newspaper also said that China hopes new leaders will act to prevent bilateral tensions from escalating further, work together to control the current crisis and focus on bilateral and regional issues in light of the need to promote Asia's long-term development.
"China and Japan are at a key juncture in terms of whether bilateral relations will take a step forward or backward," the editorial added.