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The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is returning to power after three years. The results signal a sharp rejection of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), which has governed only since 2009. These were the first general elections held since Japan's 2011 'triple disaster'. After 54 years of almost unbroken rule, Japan's LDP government was ousted in 2009. Successive DPJ governments were unable to keep their campaign promises. Frequently shifting governments have not overcome Japan's prolonged political ...

China has made considerable efforts to lift people out of poverty. Unbalanced and unsustainable development, social problems and corruption remain, however, serious challenges. The two main fractions, 'Tuanpai' and the 'Shanghai group', are jostling for key positions. The new Communist Party Secretary-General, and future President, Mr.XI Jinping, is a princeling whose political beliefs remain largely unknown. The second-in-line and future Prime Minister, Mr. LI Keqiang, is from the Tuanpai faction ...