But with the LDP having just held its largest, longest election to find a new figurehead, it’s unclear if there will be the appetite to go again. The party is said to be wary of the chaos of the post-Koizumi era in the late 2000s, when its constant chopping and changing of leaders ultimately evaporated … Read more
Ishiba’s position on China is even harder to map out. He’s by turns hawkish and pragmatic, and seeks active diplomacy with Beijing that would benefit both sides – rhetoric that has changed little in almost a decade, the last time Ishiba held a significant position in the party – despite the geopolitical changes. His self-styled … Read more
THE POPULAR MAVERICK RAISING EYEBROWS Given Trump’s transactional nature, he might even understand Shigeru Ishiba’s talk of re-balancing Tokyo’s relationship with the US. But others in Washington might not be so sure, given Tokyo’s increasing importance in US plans to contain China. Ishiba is well-known in defence circles. But his talk of reviewing the Status … Read more
