Likely new Japan PM vows to bolster China ties
TOKYO - Taro Aso, an often brash former foreign minister seen as the most likely candidate to replace Japan's prime minister, said Friday he believes good relations with China are an important part of Japanese foreign policy and shrugged off criticism that he is too hawkish.
Review: Meet Me at the Xbox ArcadeAso is widely seen as the front-runner to replace Yasuo Fukuda, who announced his intention to resign last week.
While polls indicate Aso has already garnered enough votes within the ruling party to win its presidency when elections are held in parliament Sept. 22, he has been criticized by some as too outspoken.
In a debate with the four other candidates, he brushed off such concerns, jokingly introducing himself as the candidate "who has caused concern that he will make an enemy of China" and then saying such fears are unwarranted.
"We will live together with China," he said. "Friendship is only a tool, the real goal is the co-prosperity of Japan and China."
He also vowed to watch his words.
"As a national leader, I will not say anything carelessly, and I've been careful," he said. "Please read transcripts of my remarks when I served as foreign minister. I've mostly managed to shut myself up just in time. So please feel at ease."
Aso stressed the United States remains Japan's most important ally, and said Tokyo must continue to work in close concert with Washington on the international stage.
But he indicated that he will also press ahead with efforts made by Fukuda to bolster ties with Beijing. Relations with China sagged dramatically several years ago over territorial disputes, increased economic rivalry and visits to a war shrine by Japanese leaders.
Aso was foreign minister in 2005, while ties with Beijing were at a low ebb.
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