News analysis

No easy way out for Abe in scandal over document tampering

Japanese PM hit by falling approval ratings ahead of internal vote for party's leadership

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There appears to be no easy way out for Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe from the debacle he is currently facing.

He is unlikely to throw his long-time political ally and confidant, Finance Minister Taro Aso, under the bus after revelations last week that his ministry's Financial Bureau had tampered with 14 documents related to a dubious land deal for nationalist school educator Moritomo Gakuen.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on March 21, 2018, with the headline No easy way out for Abe in scandal over document tampering . Subscribe