Japan's Cabinet named the country's new ambassador to China on Thursday as calls to show toughness on the Diaoyu Islands dispute with China poured in from major frontrunners ahead of the mid-December election.

Observers predicted the islands dispute will be further overblown in the weeks leading up to the start of the election on Dec 16, and the Cabinet will not ease its grip on the issue before handing over the top seats.

Masato Kitera, Japan's assistant chief cabinet secretary since 2011, was appointed as the country's new ambassador to China during a cabinet meeting on Thursday morning.