Who is Shigeru Ishiba, Japan’s leader in waiting, and what will he bring to China ties?

Advocate of ‘Asian Nato’ to counter China who also seeks more balanced US ties could ruffle feathers on either side of Pacific, analysts say

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Shigeru Ishiba has been elected leader of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party, virtually ensuring that he will become the country’s next prime minister. Photo: Reuters

Published: 3:00pm, 28 Sep 2024

Shigeru Ishiba, in line to become Japan’s next prime minister, is a seasoned politician who will pursue both continuity and nuance in his China policy, according to diplomatic observers.

Ishiba, a former defence chief, was elected leader of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) on Friday. The LDP’s parliamentary majority means he is expected to replace Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who announced plans to step down last month.

Analysts said Ishiba was likely to maintain Japan’s strategic alliances, but warned that his aims to set up an Asian equivalent of Nato to counter China and seek a more balanced partnership with the United States could ruffle feathers in both Beijing and Washington.

The 67-year-old won the party leadership on his fifth attempt – which he said was driven by changes in the security environment.

Ishiba has stressed the need to build a collective security framework in Asia, drawing parallels to the sense of urgency in Europe caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Following Ishiba’s victory, the Chinese foreign ministry said it would not comment on the internal affairs of other countries but called for a “long-term healthy and stable development of China-Japan relations”.