Yukio Hatoyama is leading in opinion polls in the run-up to the August 30 election, and he is seen by many as likely to become the new prime minister.

He has criticized Japan's mission in the Indian ocean to supply fuel to coalition forces in Afghanistan.

Yukio Hatoyama said, "I have always wondered whether Japan's fueling mission for the coalition forces in Afghanistan might mean a benefit for US and Pakistan, who receive free fuel from us, but not for peace in Afghanistan."

Japan has a refueling mission in the Indian Ocean in support of the US mission in Afghanistan, which began in 2001.

In Japan, the party that wins a parliamentary majority chooses the prime minister.

Both candidates attach great importance to Japan-China relations. Aso has said bilateral ties are the best they have been in 10 years, while Hatoyama vowed that his party would further develop Japan-China relations should it take power.

(CCTV August 13, 2009)