Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has appointed Tomomi Inada as the country's new defense minister as part of a limited Cabinet reshuffle on Wednesday, Reuters reported.      

Known for her hawkish views on foreign policies and national security, Inada's appointment is likely to raise eyebrows in China and South Korea. Local media reports suggest that she shares Abe's goal of revising Japan's post-war pacifist constitution, considered by many conservative politicians as a symbol of the country's humiliating defeat in World War 2.

Like Us on Facebook

Inada is reported to be among the regular visitors to the historical Yasukuni Shrine, where millions of dead soldiers and convicted war criminals are buried. China and South Korea consider Yasukuni Shrine as a symbol of Japan's past wartime aggression against both countries.       

"Ms. Inada is an ultra-conservative politician, and this will be taken as preparation for achieving constitutional revision and adopting a stern stance toward China," said Takashi Kawakami, a security expert at Takushoku University.

Inada is the second woman, after Yuriko Koike, to be appointed as Japan's defense minister. She previously held the post of policy chief for her party, the Liberal Democratic Party.

Japan's Alleged Wartime Aggression

Japan's past wartime aggression has always cast a shadow on its relationship with China and South Korea. China has been especially forthcoming in seeking an apology from Japan for its alleged war crimes during the Second World War.  

Memories of Nanjing Massacre are especially still fresh among Chinese people. The massacre committed during the second Sino-Japan war left millions of Chinese citizens dead in Nanjing city.

TagsShinzo Abe, Japan and China, Tomomi Inada, china, Nanjing Massacre