FACTBOX-Key facts on Japan PM Abe's track record

(Reuters) - Japanese media lambasted Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Tuesday, warning that the suicide of a scandal-tainted minister and a furore over pensions could lead to defeat for his ruling camp at upper house elections in July.

Here are key facts about Abe's track record since assuming office last September.

* Abe visited China and South Korea just weeks after taking office, moving to repair ties strained by his predecessor Junichiro Koizumi's annual visits to a war shrine seen by the Asian neighbours as a symbol of Japan's past militarism. The thaw has continued after Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao made a reciprocal visit to Japan last month.

* The conservative Abe has managed to pass controversial laws -- one to upgrade the defence agency to a full-fledged ministry, and another on educational reform -- as part of his agenda to allow Japan to play a greater global security role, revive traditional values and instil discipline and patriotism.

* The 52-year-old Abe, the first Japanese leader born after World War Two, also took a major step towards his goal of revising the pacifist constitution by enacting a law laying out procedures for a referendum needed to change the charter.

* Doubts have been cast over Abe's leadership by a series of scandals among his appointees. One cabinet minister resigned over a political funds scandal and a hand-picked point man on tax reform quit after media reported he was living with a mistress in an upscale apartment subsidised with taxpayers' money.

* Gaffes by cabinet ministers have also been a headache for Abe. His health minister came under fire for referring to women as "birth-giving machines", while the defence minister has angered Washington by saying that starting the Iraq war had been a mistake.