Tokyo - Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) elected Taro Aso to succeed Yasuo Fukuda as its party leader Monday. Aso, 68-year-old former LDP secretary general and foreign minister, is likely to become Japan's prime minister in Wednesday's election as the LDP holds the majority of seats in the more-powerful lower house, Japan's House of Representatives.
"I will finally be able to declare that my fate is met and my mission is accomplished when we defeat (the opposition) DPJ in the next election," Asosaid shortly after he was elected Monday
Often referred to as a political hawk, Aso won a landslide victory Monday against four contenders by a majority 351 of 525 valid votes.
Votes were distributed to his rivals including former defense minister and first female candidate to run in the party presidential race Yuriko Koike, 56, with 46 votes, former LDP policy chief Nobuteru Ishihara, 51, 37 votes, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba, 51, 25 votes and Economic and Fiscal Policy Minister Kaoru Yosano, 70, 66 votes.
The grandson and son-in-law of former prime ministers, Aso is challenged to recover the voters' confidence in the party's politics after the abrupt resignation of two prime ministers.
Public confidence has degraded since former prime minister Shinzo Abe resigned September last year due to a series of scandals and mismanagement of pension payments among other problems.
Outgoing Premier Yasuo Fukuda announced his resignation on September 1, less than a year after he assumed post, mainly because the LDP had difficulties passing any legislations through the opposition-dominated upper house, Japan's House of Councillors.
Aso sees his mission to defeat the opposition Democratic Party of Japan by a majority in the next general election, he said.
"We must win this (general) election, and proudly revive this country, achieve reforms and make a further step forward," Aso said. "LDP is the only party strong enough to stand up to mounting problems in and outside of Japan."
Although Aso's term runs through September 2009, he may call the lower house to dissolve for a general election at an early date. Analysts believe the election will be held on October 26.
On foreign policy, Aso said Japan and China can work as good partners, while maintaining amiable relations with other Asian nations, despite the popular belief that he is a conservative hawk.
Aso said Japan was destined to prosper along with China and South Korea.
While serving in ministerial positions, Aso has not visited Yasukuni Shrine on August 15, the anniversary of the day Japan surrendered to end World War II, but has evaded questions on whether he plans to visit the shrine as prime minister.
Visits to the controversial shrine by Japanese leaders have prompted strong protest from Asian nations which suffered under Japan's wartime aggression.
Aso advocates making Yasukuni a state-run facility to commemorate the war dead rather than maintaining it as a religious sanctuary so that the Japanese emperor can also visit to pay tribute.
The new leader sees Japan's role as a stabilizing force in the Asian region, which he said he would accomplish on cooperation with the United States.
Aso was expected to extend Japan's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean to assist international warships to fight in the US-led anti-terrorism operations.
