Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda was unable to achieve a breakthrough in improving ties with China and South Korea during his trip to Cambodia, ahead of a tough Dec. 16 Lower House poll.
Noda attended a series of summits related to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations from Monday, only a few days after he dissolved the House of Representatives for a general election that recent polls indicate could unseat his Democratic Party of Japan from power after a three-year run.
In the runup to the Lower House election on Dec. 16, Noda may have been hoping for a diplomatic success by mending relations with China and South Korea, which have been worsening over territorial disputes, political pundits said.