JAPAN/FILE: Japanese Prime minister Yoshihiko Noda announces candidacy for next ruling party leadership elections and says disputed island purchase talks are ongoing

Record ID: 466729

  • Title: JAPAN/FILE: Japanese Prime minister Yoshihiko Noda announces candidacy for next ruling party leadership elections and says disputed island purchase talks are ongoing
  • Date: 7th September 2012
  • Summary: AT SEA, EAST CHINA SEA (FILE) (REUTERS) THREE ISLANDS THAT THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT IS IN TALKS TO PURCHASE SEEN FROM BOAT AT SEA MORE OF ISLANDS FROM BOAT AT SEA LARGEST OF THE SENKAKU/DIAOYU ISLANDS JAPANESE FLAG PAINTED ON A ROCK ON ONE OF THE ISLANDS LIGHTHOUSE ON THE ISLAND ANOTHER ISLAND OF THE SENKAKU/DIAOYU JAPANESE COAST GUARD VESSEL
  • Embargoed: 22nd September 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: At Sea, Japan
  • City:
  • Country: Japan At Sea
  • Topics: International Relations,Politics,People
  • Reuters ID: LVADF7UVI1M6YDF41IBZ4L5G971B
  • Story Text: Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda announced he was back in the race for a second term on Friday (September 7) and ready to face the Democratic Party leadership elections later this month.
    In a news conference to officially announce his candidacy, Noda told his party voters and the general public that his job was only half done.
    "I intend to continue my term in the hope to overcome the various issues facing Japanese society, such as the as yet incomplete comprehensive tax, social security reforms and the reconstruction efforts following the earthquake (of March 11, 2011) where we have only reached half way point," Noda said.
    However, his election on September 21, when the Democratic Party of Japan will vote for their next leader and thus the next Prime Minister of Japan, is practically guaranteed as he has no rivals as of yet.
    But he is not a popular leader, especially after doubling the consumption tax and promising the opposition party a general election at the 'earliest date'.
    At Friday's news conference, he also repeated earlier vows to protect all of Japan's territories and waters.
    Japan is locked in a bitter territorial dispute with China over East China Sea islets that both countries claim.
    The isles, called Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China, are located near rich fishing grounds and potentially large gas reserves.
    This comes on the day the Japanese defence ministry announced that it expected to post the biggest drop in defence spending in more than half a century next year, though it also said Tokyo would make new investments in equipment to help defend remote islands.
    "We are still in negotiations (with the owners) for the calm and stable maintenance of the Senkaku islands. I cannot give you any more details as it will infringe upon the profits and rights of owners. Neither can we give you a date (to the end of negotiations)," Noda said.
    It is unclear whether this budget will include the purchase price of the group of islands which the Japanese government is trying to buy from private owners.
  • Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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