Embattled Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said today he would resign in hope of making it easier to extend a naval mission in support of US-led operations in Afghanistan, sending shockwaves through Japan.
The hawkish Mr Abe (52) , who took office a year ago promising to boost Japan's global security profile, has suffered low support rates and dwindling clout after his ruling camp suffered an election drubbing in July, but the announcement was unexpected.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe speaks during a news conference in Tokyo today
"I determined today that I should resign," a weary-looking Mr Abe told a news conference. "We should seek a continued mission to fight terrorism under a new prime minister."
The yen and stocks slipped on concerns about political uncertainty.
Mr Abe had previously indicated that he would step down if he failed to extend a Japanese naval mission supporting US-led operations in Afghanistan, but that had not expected to come to a head so soon.
Opposition parties, which won control of parliament's upper house in the July poll and can delay the enabling legislation for the mission, had been preparing to question him on the topic in parliament this afternoon.
LDP Secretary-General Taro Aso, a close Mr Abe ally who shares most of his hawkish views on security policy, is generally seen as frontrunner to succeed as LDP president and hence, prime minister.
The LDP and its junior partner suffered a drubbing in the July election, and his support ratings have floundered amid a row over pensions and a series of financial scandals involving cabinet ministers.
Financial market players have been worried about the possibility that the stalemate over the naval mission and Mr Abe's other woes would either prompt him to resign or spark a snap election for the powerful lower house, threatening political instability and a policy vacuum.
Mr Abe had already been weakened by scandals and gaffes by ministers that contributed to the election disaster and had been expected to provide fodder for opposition grilling in parliament in the coming weeks.