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Re-elected Abe appoints hawkish defence minister

Nakatani's desire for Japanese pre-emptive military strike capability could alarm China

Published Wed, Dec 24, 2014 · 09:50 PM

Tokyo

SHINZO Abe was re-elected prime minister of Japan at a special session of Parliament on Wednesday and has retained all key members of his former government except outgoing defence minister Akinori Eto. Mr Eto was replaced by Gen Nakatani - who favours giving Japan a pre-emptive military strike capability.

The appointment of Mr Nakatani was confirmed by chief Cabinet secretary Yoshihide Suga before Mr Abe formally announced his other appointees and set what some analysts saw as a "hawkish" tone for the new Abe administration.

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