The Liberal Democratic Party had campaigned on a tough stance on the Senkaku Islands dispute , leading to speculation as to how the new government would deal with the issue . Abe made his party 's position clear immediately following the election , stating that their " objective is to stop the challenge " from China with regards to ownership of the islands . The re-election of the liberal conservative LDP has raised concern in foreign media that Japan 's relations with its neighbours — China and South Korea — will become strained , given the past visits to the Yasukuni Shrine by LDP prime ministers , the party 's perceived de-emphasization of Japan 's war crimes committed during the Second World War and their intention to amend the country 's pacifist constitution to give more power to the Self-Defense Forces . Abe is also in favour of retaining nuclear energy in the country
war crimes
Japanese war crimes
2012 Japanese general election