Japan's political development at a crossroads

According to an observation in the New York Times, Japan''s relations with its neighbours could deteriorate further if the LDP regains power with Shinzo Abe as the prime minister again. Japan has already fairly seriously strained its ties with China (including Taiwan), 'South Korea and Russia over territorial disputes and'/or row over wartime history. As the top leadership of two main parties are infected with rightwing ideas and as the two parties are competing to be ''righter-'than'-thou', there is indeed no choice now for liberal or progressive folk in Japan. Japan has quite clearly arrived at a 'political and strategic crossroads.