VARIOUS: South Koreans and Chinese welcome the victory of Japan's opposition party

Record ID: 464862

  • Title: VARIOUS: South Koreans and Chinese welcome the victory of Japan's opposition party
  • Date: 1st September 2009
  • Summary: LOCAL NEWSPAPER REPORTING ELECTION
  • Embargoed: 16th September 2009 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA9RJXBDCQ5VBBE3KCMBCU8HZBW
  • Story Text: South Koreans and Chinese welcomed on Monday (August 31) the victory of Japan's opposition party, since the party leader had said he would not visit Tokyo's controversial Yasukuni shrine.
    Japanese voters swept the opposition to an historic victory in elections on Sunday (August 30), ousting the long-ruling conservative party and handing the novice Democrats the job of reviving a struggling economy.
    Tokyo's Yasukuni shrine, for war dead, is seen by China and South Korea as a symbol of Japan's past militarism.
    Yukio Hatoyama, leader of Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) and Prime Minister-elect had said he would not visit the controversial Yasukuni shrine, in an effort to have better relations with East Asian countries.
    Citizens on the streets of Seoul welcomed the victory of DPJ.
    "Without visiting Yasukuni shrine, the new Japanese government will be welcomed by the international community. And they can keep a positive relationship with my country," said 33-year-old Lee Hyon-joon.
    Established in 1869 and funded by the government until 1945, Yasukuni is dedicated to Japan's 2.5 million war dead, including about 1,000 convicted war criminals. No human remains are housed there.
    The shrine played a central role in the wartime state Shinto religion, which mobilised the population to fight in the name of a divine emperor.
    Among those honoured are 14 World War Two leaders convicted by an Allied tribunal as "Class A" war criminals, including prime minister Hideki Tojo. Seven of these were executed by hanging.
    "He said he would not visit Yasukuni shrine, trying to establish a good cooperational system in East Asia. So the new Japanese government and my government will maintain good relations," said 27-year-old Lee Jin-hee.
    In the streets of Beijing, passers-by also welcomed the Japanese opposition party's victory.
    "If they can, as they promised, avoid going to Yasukuni shrine and push for strengthening bilateral ties, I think this party will benefit us, and I will support it," said 22-year-old man Liu.
    Separately a woman, also named Liu, said Japan should have a good relationship with China since her country's economic power was growing.
    "No matter which party becomes the ruling party, I think they will try to maintain a friendly policy towards China. China's economy is becoming bigger and friendly ties will only benefit Japan. That's why I don't think there will be much change in Japan's policy towards China," said Liu.
    The win by the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ)a half-century of almost unbroken rule by the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and breaks a deadlock in parliament, ushering in a government pledging to focus spending on consumers, cut wasteful budget outlays and reduce the power of bureaucrats.
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