Gen Nakatani - Japan's newly appointed defense minister. -AFP
BEIJING: China on Thursday called on Japan to pursue “peaceful development” under its new defence minister appointed this week after Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s re-election, as tensions simmer over a territorial dispute and wartime history.
Abe on Wednesday appointed Gen Nakatani, 57 to replace Akinori Eto to the defence portfolio after Eto declined reappointment in the midst of a political funding scandal. Nakatani headed the defence agency -- later upgraded to a ministry -- in 2001-2002 and is said to agree with Abe on the need for Japan to beef up its national security.
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