(VOVworld) – Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party won a landslide victory in the election for Parliament’s House of Diet on Sunday. This means the Party’s President Shinzo Abe will become the country’s Prime Minister. The LDP’s success suggests that Japanese voters trust the party but saddle it with the challenge of dealing with Japan’s current problems. VOV’s editor Hong Van comments…

The LDP’s victory in Japan’s parliamentary election Sunday, Dec. 16 virtually ensures that Abe will get a second chance to try to lead Japan out of its economic slump. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara, File)

After the LDP’s victory, party President Shinzo Abe promised to lead Japan out of its crisis. In his first press conference, Abe said his new cabinet, which will be declared next Wednesday, will be committed to expanding the economy and restoring the nation’s diplomatic strength. To this end, Abe said his cabinet will do its best to end chronic deflation. He said ministers will be asked to sign agreements with Japan’s Central Bank to implement a loose monetary policy aimed at reaching an inflation rate of 2% per year. This will be a tough mission as Japan’s GDP growth was 3.5% last month, the lowest level since the tsunami struck last March. Japan’s economy is going through a difficult period, as it depends largely on exports, which have been hurt by the global recession. Restoring the northeastern region after the tsunami and resulting break down of the Fukushima nuclear plant are another burden for the new government.

Diplomatically, Abe said the US remains one of Japan’s most important allies and vowed that Japan will continue to maintain the Japan – US alliance and restore the diplomatic strength that has dimmed due to recent economic weakness. On Tuesday, Abe held his first telephone talk with US President Barack Obama to discuss the US – Japan Security Treaty. Abe said he will meet with President Obama next January. Several analysts said that the LDP should be careful about Futenma Air Base to avoid angering Okinawans. Unless Okinawa’s concerns are resolved, Japan- US relations could suffer as in the previous adminsitration.

Although relations between Japan and China are of paramount importance, Abe insists there won’t be any compromise on Japan’s sovereignty over disputed islands. The LDP has pledged to make a proposal either to build a seaport in Senkaku or to send administrative personnel there to confirm Japan’s sovereignty over the islands which have been unpopulated for a long time. Either plan is sure to harm future Sino-Japanese relations.  

Hong Van