Japan’s Next Prime Minister Is Likely to Pursue a Balanced International Policy, Experts Say

Shigeru Ishiba, a former defense minister who is set to become Japan’s next prime minister, will likely pursue a balanced international policy while pursuing a more assertive regional alliance against China, according to experts. They also said that Ishiba’s fifth and successful attempt at leading the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the country shows Japanese politicians’ demand for a middle-of-the-road leader. Nine candidates competed in the latest LDP presidency election, which ended on Sept. 27. Ishiba finished second in the first round and won the run-off, held if no candidate won a majority. Shinjiro Koizumi, a former environment minister and the leader in the polls, finished third and didn’t make it to the run-off. Sanae Takaichi, the female economic security minister seen as the successor to the late former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, a leader hawkish to China, lost to Ishiba in the run-off despite coming in first during the first round....