TOKYO: Shinzo Abe, who piloted his Liberal Democratic Party to victory in Sunday's election, said there is no doubt about Japan's ownership of islands at the centre of a dispute with China.
"China is challenging the fact that (the islands) are Japan's inherent territory," said Abe, who is expected to become prime minister. "Our objective is to stop the challenge. We don't intend to worsen relations between Japan and China."
Meanwhile, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda on Sunday conceded defeat in the general election and said he was stepping down as leader from his humbled governing party.
"I will resign as the head of the Democratic Party of Japan because I take this result seriously," he told a press conference. "I want to deeply apologise as I could not produce results."
Noda was speaking after NHK television, citing forecasts based on both official results and its own exit polls, said the Liberal Democratic Party had won at least 255 seats with 95 seats undecided, against 39 seats for the DPJ.
The LDP is expected to easily secure a majority of the 480-seat chamber with New Komeito, its junior coalition partner, which is expected to win at least 25 seats, NHK said.
Asked why the DPJ suffered such a haemorrhaging of support, Noda said: "We were unable to live up to people's expectations when we came into government (in 2009)."
"Politicians must take responsibility for results. The biggest responsibility for such a severe defeat lies with me as the party leader."
- AFP/xq
Disputed islands are Japan's: Shinzo Abe
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Disputed islands are Japan's: Shinzo Abe
