Tokyo governor quits to form new party

Ishihara plans to get back to national politics

Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara, whose bid to "purchase" the Diaoyu Islands ignited a row between Japan and China, resigned on Thursday to form his own national political party.

His resignation came as an analyst warned that the rise of right-wing forces in Japan should be closely watched for possible moves that could lead to a deterioration in already-strained Sino-Japanese ties.