說話大膽的東京都知事石原辭職組建新政黨

Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara, whose outspoken nationalism has often angered neighboring China, says he is resigning to form a new political party ahead of a general election.

Ishihara told a news conference Thursday he plans to run for parliament in the elections, which must be called by August. He was a parliamentarian for the Liberal Democratic Party before serving nearly 14 years as governor of Japan's largest city.

The 80-year-old novelist-turned-politician is known for his far-right political views, including his opposition to Japan's pacifist World War II-era constitution.

Earlier this year, he angered Beijing by threatening to buy and develop a group of islands claimed by both Japan and China. Analysts say the move forced Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda to nationalize some of the islands, which led to a serious deterioration in China-Japan relations.

東京都知事石原慎太郎表示，他將辭去他的職務，並將在日本大選前組建新的政黨。石原直言不諱的民族主義經常激怒鄰國中國。

石原星期四在記者會上說，他計劃競選國會議員。日本國會選舉必須在8月底之前舉行。石原曾經代表自由民主黨擔任過國會議員，後來擔任了日本最大都市東京都知事將近14年。

今年80歲的石原從政前是一位作家，是日本著名的極右派政治人物。他的極右派觀點包括反對日本二戰後的和平憲法。

今年早些時候，石原威脅要購買並開發一個日本和中國都聲稱擁有主權的羣島，讓中國大爲光火。分析人士認爲，石原的做法迫使野田佳彥首相將其中一些島嶼國有化，導致中日關係的嚴重惡化。