Japanese Opposition Party Nominates Nationalist Former PM

[Duke Maynard]

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/27/wo...ader.html?_r=1

Just in time for the islands debate, here comes a new challenger.
A nationalist liberal democrat who promises to play hard with China in regards to the islands conflict. Apparently, the Liberal democrats are enjoying a surge of popularity as a result of the diplomatic conflict, so a return to office by Shinzo Abe seems a distinct possibility. This could, of course, provide more fuel for the Japan-China debate, and hamper negotiations.

It also seems this fellow is nationalist in more than the modern sense- he seems to be part of the Japanese movement to have textbooks whitewash the events of the second World War and denies certain war crimes like Korean 'Comfort Women' as ever taking place.