Japan's main opposition party has pledged to boost relations with China and rethink US military bases on Okinawa if it comes to power in this month's elections.
The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) is widely tipped to win the August 30 vote and topple the right-wing Liberal Democratic Party, which has ruled Japan for virtually all of the last 54 years.
DPJ secretary-general Katsuya Okada said: "The mainstream consensus within DPJ is that the relations between Japan and China are very important. If DPJ becomes the ruling party, relations will be further improved."
More than 50,000 US troops are stationed throughout Japan, which pays billions of dollars each year to support them, and Tokyo is dependent on the US for "nuclear deterrence."
Mr Okada said that it was time for Japan to become more independent, adding that the US military bases on Okinawa should be "reconsidered."
Party chief Yukio Hatoyama has said that a refuelling mission in support of US-led military operations in the Indian Ocean, which partially supports US occupation forces in Afghanistan, would not be extended if the DPJ takes power.
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