Japanese PM reshuffles his cabinet again

Japan's new cabinet will bring about little change in the nation's development and policymaking, experts said, as Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda replaced five ministers on Monday, a move that is widely anticipated to pave the way for a sales tax bill.

It is the second time that Noda has changed members of his cabinet since he took office last September. Japan's major media said Noda made the cabinet reshuffle to secure support from the main opposition Liberal Democratic Party for a new tax hike.

"Such a move helps ease the pressure on Noda caused by the LDP," said Liu Jiangyong, vice-dean of the Institute of Modern International Relations at Tsinghua University, calling the reshuffle "an urgent need" for Noda.