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| Tokyo governor Shintaro Ishihara quits to form new party | Tokyo governor Shintaro Ishihara quits to form new party |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Tokyo's governor Shintaro Ishihara is resigning to form a new national political party, ahead of expected general elections in Japan. | Tokyo's governor Shintaro Ishihara is resigning to form a new national political party, ahead of expected general elections in Japan. |
| "As of today, I will resign as the Tokyo governor," he told reporters. | "As of today, I will resign as the Tokyo governor," he told reporters. |
| The 80-year-old, serving his fourth term as governor, is known for making provocative comments. | The 80-year-old, serving his fourth term as governor, is known for making provocative comments. |
| Earlier this year, he sparked off a row when he said he would use public money to buy a group of islands at the centre of a dispute between China and Japan. | Earlier this year, he sparked off a row when he said he would use public money to buy a group of islands at the centre of a dispute between China and Japan. |
| The novelist-turned-politician, who began his current term as governor only last April, said he wants to return to national politics. | The novelist-turned-politician, who began his current term as governor only last April, said he wants to return to national politics. |
| He said he would be founding a party with other right-wing politicians to challenge the two dominant parties in polls that must be called by the end of next year. | He said he would be founding a party with other right-wing politicians to challenge the two dominant parties in polls that must be called by the end of next year. |
| He blamed Japan's current economic and political problems on the government and compared the administration to the rule of the shogun, referring to the hereditary commanders-in-chief in feudal Japan. | He blamed Japan's current economic and political problems on the government and compared the administration to the rule of the shogun, referring to the hereditary commanders-in-chief in feudal Japan. |
| "We must change the inflexible rule of the central government bureaucrats," Mr Ishihara said. | "We must change the inflexible rule of the central government bureaucrats," Mr Ishihara said. |
| 'Big contradictions' | 'Big contradictions' |
| Earlier reports had said Mr Ishihara was aiming to form a group large enough to challenge the two established parties - the ruling Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) and the opposition Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) - at the next elections. | Earlier reports had said Mr Ishihara was aiming to form a group large enough to challenge the two established parties - the ruling Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) and the opposition Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) - at the next elections. |
| But the reports in the Japanese media had not suggested that Mr Ishihara would quit his role as governor - one he has come to own. | But the reports in the Japanese media had not suggested that Mr Ishihara would quit his role as governor - one he has come to own. |
| He said he saw ''several contradictions, big contradictions'' in national politics. | He said he saw ''several contradictions, big contradictions'' in national politics. |
| "One contradiction, bigger than anything, is the Japanese constitution, which was imposed by the [post-WWII US] occupying army, and is rendered in ugly Japanese," he said. | "One contradiction, bigger than anything, is the Japanese constitution, which was imposed by the [post-WWII US] occupying army, and is rendered in ugly Japanese," he said. |
| He is demanding the repeal of pacifist clauses in Japan's constitution, which restricts the activities of the country's armed forces. | He is demanding the repeal of pacifist clauses in Japan's constitution, which restricts the activities of the country's armed forces. |
| The BBC's Charles Scanlon says Shintaro Ishihara has long been Japan's most outspoken and confrontational politician. | The BBC's Charles Scanlon says Shintaro Ishihara has long been Japan's most outspoken and confrontational politician. |
| He has consistently antagonised China, and provoked the crisis in relations this year with his plan to buy and develop a group of disputed islands, our correspondent says. | He has consistently antagonised China, and provoked the crisis in relations this year with his plan to buy and develop a group of disputed islands, our correspondent says. |
| Foreign policy analyst Tomohiko Taniguchi told the BBC that one of Mr Ishihara's aims might be "to push his party and himself to a position pivotal enough to change the course of coalition-building in Japan". | |
| "Japan's political landscape will therefore look more confrontational between the left - which is also friendlier to Beijing - and the right, [which] takes [the] national interest [and] national security more highly than the left," Prof Taniguchi said. | |
| China ties | China ties |
| Ahead of the elections the DPJ is seeing its support plummeting. Earlier this week, approval ratings for the government slipped below 20% for the first time, Japanese media reported. | |
| Meanwhile, the opposition LDP chose former PM Shinzo Abe as its new leader last month, potentially positioning him to become the next prime minister. | Meanwhile, the opposition LDP chose former PM Shinzo Abe as its new leader last month, potentially positioning him to become the next prime minister. |
| Ties between Tokyo and Beijing remain severely strained by a row over a group of islands both claim - known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China. | Ties between Tokyo and Beijing remain severely strained by a row over a group of islands both claim - known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China. |
| Tension flared again when Mr Ishihara said he wanted to buy the islands in April. In September, the Japanese government confirmed its purchase of the disputed islands from private owners. | Tension flared again when Mr Ishihara said he wanted to buy the islands in April. In September, the Japanese government confirmed its purchase of the disputed islands from private owners. |
| Japanese ministers said the move prevented ties from worsening with China - which was certain to happen if Mr Ishihara had succeeded in buying the islands. | Japanese ministers said the move prevented ties from worsening with China - which was certain to happen if Mr Ishihara had succeeded in buying the islands. |
| On Thursday, four Chinese surveillance ships were seen near the islands, the Japanese coastguard said, prompting Japan to lodge a diplomatic protest with China. China confirmed the vessels were in the area but said they were on routine patrol. | On Thursday, four Chinese surveillance ships were seen near the islands, the Japanese coastguard said, prompting Japan to lodge a diplomatic protest with China. China confirmed the vessels were in the area but said they were on routine patrol. |